Katara to open brand new library exclusively for fans of Arabic fiction
Qatar has been doing a lot to promote reading habits among children and adults in the country. The opening of the Qatar National Library was a solid move taken in this direction.
Now, the Katara Cultural Village is going ahead with an initiative that it hopes will attract fans of Arabic literature.
Katara has announced plans to open an exclusive library for Arabic novels and other literary works at its premises as part of efforts to promote Arabic literature, reported Gulf Times.
The Katara Library of Arabic Novels is set to formally open during the 4th Katara Festival of Arabic Novels, scheduled to be held from October 15 to 17.
The Festival will also see the awarding of winners of the Katara Prize for Arabic Novels 2018 and a book signing ceremony by winners of the 2017 awards.
“The Katara Library for Arabic Novels will showcase more than 10,000 titles in fiction, in addition to studies and critical works on Arabic novels. The opening ceremony will take place on the first day of the Festival,” Katara Cultural Village General Manager Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti told The Peninsula.
He added that the Library will serve as a major resource and meeting point for writers, researchers, and people of letters.
The Library will also have special sections for reading and reference work and for the screening of films and serials based on fiction, as well as audio programmes. There will also be dedicated sections for lectures, seminars and workshops, and a studio for recording interviews and interactive sessions.
The new Library is expected to become a platform for a wide range of activities like expert workshops, seminars and lectures on Arabic fiction and related topics.
The Library will also function as a readers’ club, bringing together distinguished readers, writers and intellectuals who will meet every month for open discussions on diverse literary topics, especially those related to novels.
The Library will also include an electronic archive for Arabic novels as well as Arab novelists. The archive will provide easy access to a comprehensive source of information on Arabic novels and novelists.
A total of 27 new titles will be released during the 4th Katara Festival of Arabic Novels.
