The Palestinian National Library (Arabic: المكتبة الوطنية الفلسطينية) is a national library located in Ramallah, in the West Bank, and is also known as the National Library of Palestine. It was established in 2019 and is located in Surda, a village near Ramallah.[1] The library covers an area of 4,700 square meters and serves as a repository of Palestinian cultural heritage and knowledge.[2]
| Palestinian National Library | |
|---|---|
| المكتبة الوطنية الفلسطينية | |
 The Palestinian National Library in Ramallah | |
 | |
| 31°56′02″N 35°11′40″E / 31.933906°N 35.194363°E | |
| Location | Surda, Ramallah, Palestine |
| Type | National library |
| Established | 2019 |
| Collection | |
| Items collected | Books, journals, manuscripts, maps, photographs, and other materials related to Palestinian history, culture, and society |
| Size | 200,000+ |
Ehab Bessaiso is the current chairperson of the Palestinian National Library, having taken over in 2019.[3] The library is a member of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, as of January 2023.
The library's collection includes books, journals, manuscripts, maps, photographs, and other materials related to Palestinian history, culture, and society. The library also collects materials related to the Arab-Israeli conflict and the Palestinian diaspora. It is the largest library in Palestine and holds more than 200,000 books and other items.[4][5]
The Palestinian National Library faces various challenges, including limited funding, staffing, and resources, as well as restrictions on access to materials due to the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Despite these challenges, the library continues to play an important role in preserving Palestinian cultural heritage and providing access to information for Palestinians and researchers around the world.[6]
References edit
- ^ "Palestinian National Library to Replace Hospitality Palace, Spurs Debate Rather than Celebration".
- ^ "The National Library of Palestine receives its first collection of historical photographs documenting Palestine".
- ^ "Palestinians to turn presidential palace into national library". 27 August 2017.
- ^ "Palestinian National Library to collect Palestine's scattered archives - Al-Monitor: Independent, trusted coverage of the Middle East". 24 October 2019.
- ^ Kholi, Alaa (2019). "Palestine National Library".
- ^ https://mds.marshall.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1055&context=lib_faculty
