Damascus: Director of National Library of Syria Saeed Hijazi hailed Qatar's pioneering experience in the field of national libraries, stressing that Qatar National Library (QNL) is a role model at the Arab and regional levels, with its advanced infrastructure and modern management that combines authenticity, heritage and advanced digital technologies.
According to Qatar News Agency, Hijazi stated that Qatar's experience in managing and organizing QNL is an important reference, indicating that Syria looks forward to learning from this experience within its plans to develop its cultural system and rehabilitate the National Library of Syria in line with modern technologies and knowledge transformations. He affirmed that cooperation with the State of Qatar in this field is a priority for Syria's National Library, particularly in the areas of restoration, digitization, and exchange of expertise.
A delegation from the Syrian Ministry of Culture is currently visiting the State of Qatar, he said, noting that a visit is also expected to take place with the aim of discussing the possibilities of signing memoranda of understanding and exchanging expertise in the fields of digital preservation, manuscript maintenance, and management of archival collections.
The Arab world is witnessing a major transformation today in the concept of national libraries, as they have become research and interactive centers that are not limited to preserving information sources, but also contribute to the creation, availability, and development of knowledge, he continued. Hijazi pointed out that the National Library of Syria is currently working on a comprehensive project to digitalize manuscripts and historical documents, with the aim of preserving them and making them available to researchers in Syria and abroad.
In a related context, Hijazi mentioned that a large number of these manuscripts have been photographed previously, indicating that the quality of those images does not meet modern standards in the field of digitalization. This necessitates re-photographing them using high-resolution technologies that ensure their electronic preservation in a secure and identical manner to the original.
Director of National Library of Syria highlighted that the project aims to transform the library into a digital platform that allows users to access its content remotely. Work is currently underway to secure the necessary technical equipment and train specialized personnel to implement the project according to the latest internationally approved standards.
In this context, he mentioned that the National Library of Syria seeks to cooperate with several friendly countries that have shown interest in the cultural scene in his country, including Qatar, Turkiye, and Saudi Arabia. He noted that cooperation with these countries will contribute to accelerating the development process and exchanging experiences in the fields of digitalization and archival photography.
Syria's National Library is working on a comprehensive plan to encourage reading among all segments of society, especially children and young people, through cultural initiatives and activities aimed at reviving the culture of books and strengthening the relationship between new generations and libraries, he added.
Director of National Library of Syria concluded his statements to QNA by saying that the library will undergo a comprehensive modernization and development phase, in terms of its technical infrastructure, public services, and the way it manages cultural content. He emphasized that the cultural openness that Syria is witnessing today, with the support of sisterly and friendly countries - including Qatar, is a real opportunity to rebuild cultural institutions on modern foundations.