Amman, April 23 (Petra) – Director General of the Department of the National Library, Nidal Ayasrah, met on Wednesday with Ahmed Abdullah Al Buainain, Secretary-General of the National Archives of Qatar and President of the UNESCO Memory of the World Committee for the Arab Region (MOWCAR) , to explore avenues of cooperation in archiving and documentary heritage preservation.

According to a statement from the library, the two officials discussed strengthening partnerships in preservation, restoration, digitization, and institutional knowledge exchange. They also emphasized the importance of joint efforts within the Memory of the World Committee and activating cultural initiatives that support the Arab national memory.

Ayasrah stressed the importance of establishing sustainable institutional relationships and expanding cooperation with the National Archives of Qatar, noting that such Arab partnerships are vital for documenting and preserving collective memory for future generations.

For his part, Al Buainain praised the National Library of Jordan’s pioneering role in safeguarding historical records and heritage, commending its advanced institutional and technical capabilities witnessed during his visit.

He noted that the discussions reflect a broader push to unify Arab efforts in the field of documentation and promote initiatives that serve shared cultural memory. Al Buainain also highlighted the need for strategic partnerships among national archives and libraries in the Arab world to enhance cultural identity and increase Arab representation in international archival records particularly within the Memory of the World Programme.

He added that the National Archives of Qatar is advancing a modern national strategy focused on digital transformation and fostering community-based documentation practices to meet the needs of researchers and academics.

The two sides also discussed the possibility of jointly preparing submissions for the Memory of the World Programme and exchanging expertise in digital preservation and restoration to strengthen the Arab presence in global documentary records.

Ayasrah gave Al Buainain a tour of the library's departments, including the document restoration unit, the reading hall, and permanent exhibitions, where the guest viewed key moments in Jordan’s history through displayed documents and photographs.

//Petra// AF

23/04/2025 21:00:27