Twelfth International Conference on The Inclusive Museum

Abstract

The study highlights the heritage library at Qatar National Library as a new form of a specialized library, which it becomes as a unique contribution to Qatar’s cultural landscape. By holding a valuable collection of historical material, it becomes a specialized library. It plays the role of cultural curation, where all the patrons and visitors can engage and share their thoughts during their experience through tours inside the heritage library. Since the heritage library includes a permeant exhibition, to present the collection, it offers a space for various ways of learning. It becomes an active area to debate, negotiate, or discuss different topics related to a history of Qatar, Arab, and Islamic civilization. It also reflects historian initiatives to document knowledge heritage of humanity. While a group of a visitors are standing in front of an early printed book, or a manuscript, it becomes not only an item for display; it becomes an area for de-contextualization and re-contextualization of the meaning of this item and its relation to the heritage and history. For instance, it leads to other questions related to the traditional practice of history and heritage so that they can perceive the whole meaning. Furthermore, having all materials on display to be digitized, and to be accessible through the digital repository, leads to a new way of using heritage collection, so it targets all the public. It reflects the meaning of accesses for all rather than “only for researchers”.