Doha: Qatar National Library will offer an exciting lineup of events for the month of May, aimed at offering visitors engaging learning opportunities across a range of topics such as technology, heritage, and arts. The Library's schedule features an array of events, including workshops, lectures, exhibitions, and performances for visitors to explore diverse subjects, learn new skills, and immerse themselves in culture and entertainment.
On May 4, the Library will host the “Mommy to Be: The Speaker Series.” The lecture will be presented by Dr. Sami Omar, Attending Physician in Women’s Psychiatry at Sidra Hospital, who will discuss the common symptoms of depression during pregnancy, postpartum depression and how to take care of your mental health.
On May 10, the Library will host a series of inspiring and empowering workshops designed to help you embrace your inner self. Attendees will be expected to come along with a beginner's mindset, enjoy discovering their authentic selves, and be ready for personal and professional development topics.
On the same day, Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra will be back at the Library where they will perform “Strings of Romance in Tchaikovsky and Borodin’s Chamber Music Masterpieces”.
Later on in the month, the Library invites visitors to a calligraphy and illumination workshop that aims to teach participants the art of calligraphy and decorative manuscript illumination. It will provide them with opportunities to develop their skills and inspire them to further creativity and artistic expression. The calligraphy workshops will run from May 12-14 and the illumination workshop from May 16-18.
On the 75th anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba, the Library will host a seminar on May 15 entitled "Archiving as a Human-Knowledge Action to Overcome the Nakba through People", in collaboration with Khazayn Foundation for Community Archives. The seminar will present a brief overview of the Heritage Library's diverse and rare collections related to the recorded history of Palestine as well as discuss the importance of archiving through the work of Khazayn Foundation as a community project that starts from people and returns to them.
On May 23, 24 and 25, in celebration of “Global Accessibility Awareness Day”, the Library’s Assistive Technology Center will be providing a tour to present accessibility features and services of the Library, assistive technology devices, and online resources that let our patrons experience the Library in full.
The Library’s IFLA regional center for the preservation of documentary heritage in the Arab region and the Middle East invites visitors to a lecture on May 16 to learn about the Syrian Design Archive. This is a non-profit documentary project to help archive graphic design elements and visuals including Arabic typography, street signs, stamps and media and preserve them in a digital open archive.
On the occasion of “Mental Health Awareness” month, the Library will host an event on May 20 for visitors to interact with mental health experts from different disciplines - psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, pharmacologists and others - to learn how to deal with different mental health issues. This will be an interactive program with multiple breakout sessions.
Also, in celebration of the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Georgia and Qatar, the Library will host a panel exhibition in collaboration with the Georgian Embassy from May 21 to June 21 that will look at the history of Arabic manuscripts in Georgia. The exhibition will highlight the Arab manuscript collection preserved in the Georgian National Center of Manuscripts.
On May 27, the Library invites visitors to celebrate the 97th anniversary of the birth of one of the most noted environmentalists of the 20th century, Rachel Carson. Her book, The Silent Spring, sparked the modern environmental revolution in the United States and elsewhere.
On May 29, the Library will be hosting the second “Cultural Salon” event – a platform that promotes dialogue and communication with subject-matter experts, with the aim of creating a positive atmosphere that enriches culture and raises public awareness. The event will focus on artificial intelligence and more information will be shared closer to the date.
