The newly-opened bookstore of HBKU at Minaretein.
The grand opening of Hamad Bin Khalifa University Press’ dedicated bookstore at Minaretein (College of Islamic Studies building) took place yesterday highlighting over ten years of excellence in the publishing industry.
HBKU Press’s bookstore will open Sunday to Thursday from 11am to 5.30pm. The complete collection of HBKU Press’s catalogue of works, along with dedicated space highlighting the books of other local Qatari publishing houses, can be found in the HBKU Press bookstore.
In the morning, Qatar Academy-Sidra students were invited to book readings by HBKU Press authors Muneera Saad Al-Romaihi, Dr. Jabr Al Naoimi, Zoya Anjum, and Johanna Handley.
Later in the day, guests were invited to join members of the publishing house for an informative evening to explore the publishing process and learn how HBKU Press leads the way with innovative initiatives that go beyond producing books.
Bachar Chebaro, Executive Director of HBKU Press said: “This is a momentous achievement for HBKU Press. From our diverse portfolio of genres that includes award-winning and bestselling original works and works of translation to how we are represented on the global stage, HBKU Press has always sought to redefine the publishing landscape in Qatar.”
During the event, guests were invited to explore the different facets that make up HBKU Press publishing activities. Academic publishing was explored with regards to HBKU Press’s online, Open Access publishing platform, QScience.com, that provides high level services to researchers around the world in both Arabic and English.
The team also presented HBKU Press’s commitment to publishing high quality original Arabic language works, accurate translations to and from Arabic, and books with important moral/cultural themes all of which support HBKU Press’s participation in cross-cultural communications. Additionally, HBKU Press exhibited its community outreach initiatives ranging from a multitude of opportunities for writers, authors, translators, and illustrators which serve to further promote literacy in the region.
HBKU Press’s international initiatives were highlighted as well. HBKU Press defined the value of participating in international book fairs for commercial reasons to sell books to audiences abroad and also as a platform to participate in the ‘rights sale’ of books whereby the transaction of buying and selling translation rights occurs.
HBKU Press is also committed to alternate publishing options that support sustainability and accessibility through the publishing of eBooks and audiobooks to meet personal and environmental market needs.
Also announced at the grand opening was HBKU Press’s upcoming conference in cooperation with the Qatari Forum for Publishing and Distributors, part of the Ministry of Culture and Sports in Qatar: the inaugural 2020 Doha Publishing Fellowship Program (DPFP).
The conference will host over 40 foreign publishers from 25 countries around the world in two-day forum in January 2020. Scheduled activities include seminars from leading publishing industry experts and one-on-one professional exchange meetings with other publishers.
