DOHA: Over half a million pages of archives and manuscripts on the history of Qatar and the Gulf and Arab Islamic sciences are available free online with the launch of Qatar Digital Library (QDL) yesterday.
The state-of-the-art portal can be accessed by researchers and the public via www.qdl.qa and contains materials online for the first time.
With Qatar Foundation’s (QF) support, an expert, technical team has been preserving and digitising materials from the UK’s India Office Records archives over two years to be shared publicly on the portal owned and managed by Qatar National Library. The QDL provides access to over 475,000 pages from the mid-18th century to 1951, and relate to modern historic events in Qatar, the Gulf and the Middle East.
The online library also has 25,000 pages of medieval Arab Islamic science manuscripts, historical maps, photographs and sound recordings.
The portal provides clear descriptions of the digitised materials in Arabic and English, and can be accessed for personal use or research from anywhere.
Highlights include a file of descriptions and sketches of various flags in the region between 1929 and 1938, a specimen of fabric demonstrating the colour of the flag flown by the Sheikh of Qatar, Abdullah bin Jasim Al Thani, who ruled Qatar from 1913 to 1949. The pages also depict other key moments in Qatar’s history, including the earliest recorded mention in 1782 of the historic walled coastal town of Al Zubarah which was the most important trading hub in the region.
There are also records detailing the first survey of Qatar’s coastline in 1823 based on modern methods.
Among the 25,000 pages of Arab Islamic science manuscripts contributed by Muslim scholars, is an Arabic version of the Data, Kitaab-ul-mu’Tayat, by Euclid, the famous mathematician of Alexandria. The text was translated by lshaq ibn Hunayn in the 10th century, revised by Thabit ibn Qurrah and presented on the portal in the edition of Nasir Al-Din Al-Tusi.
“The QDL is a valuable resource that unlocks human potential and assists in learning and development by promoting a better understanding of heritage. It is a shining example of QF’s dedication to sharing knowledge with people across Qatar, the Gulf and beyond to benefit all our futures,” said QF President, Engineer Saad Al Muhannadi
“QF and QNL are supporting Qatar on its journey from a carbon-based to a knowledge-based economy. In line with Qatar National Vision 2030, QF is proud that this partnership with British Library will benefit learning and research across many different disciplines, and encourage innovation and creativity,” he added.
The QDL is a product of the first phase of a 10-year partnership project between QF and British Library.
Dr Claudia Lux, Project Director, QNL, said: “The QDL embodies QNL’s vision of bridging with knowledge Qatar’s heritage and future. QNL is proud to partner with QF and British Library, and the outcome of the joint project will inspire future generations by creating one of the world’s most significant and easily accessible resources for studies into Gulf history and Arab Islamic sciences.”
Roly Keating, Chief Executive, British Library, said: “One of the greatest barriers to furthering research on Arabic cultural heritage and British history in the Gulf has been physical.
“Previously, you had to go to British Library to retrieve an archive item. Now, in one click of a button, that barrier has been lifted and global research on the topic will progress with greater urgency.”
The content of the portal is expected to expand in the future, with more materials being digitised to be uploaded, said Dr Lux.
There are also plans to collaborate with other stakeholders and big libraries in other countries to collect more materials and make them available online, said Al Muhannadi.
The Peninsula
