About Us

The Comprehensive Directory of Libraries in the Arab World is a pillar that contributes to increasing communication and cooperation among Arab libraries, providing accurate data and information related to the libraries sector in each country, forming a regional force that interacts with the international library community and a comprehensive guide to be recognized at the level of IFLA.

Libraries play an important and essential role in the development of communities. Stemming from our firm belief in the importance of the collaboration of all Arabic Libraries to enhance the standard of offered services to the researchers and workers in this field, The Secretariat General of the League of Arab States (Department of Information and Documentation) called for a meeting in cooperation with the Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) on the 18^th of January 2016. The meeting was attended by heads and representatives of Library Associations from 11 different Arabian countries, as well as the representative of IFLA Centre for Arabic Speaking Libraries based in the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the Chairman of General Authority for Books and National Archives, together with permanent delegates of KSA, Iraq and Palestine attended.

The idea of establishing a project for a comprehensive guide for the Arab World evolved from this point, aiming at:

Enhancing terms of cooperation between the Libraries in the Arab countries
Enhancing the level of services provided to librarians, professionals, researchers around the Arab World.
Provision of accurate statistics and information related to Library sector in each country.
Supporting development and planning processes for decision makers in all types of Arab libraries.
Defining libraries in the Arab countries on the level of the Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA).
Libraries are classified in relation to its type.

The guide will be launched in its digital form prior to its paper form stipulating a milestone to increase the communication and cooperation between Arab Libraries, as well providing accurate statistics and information around the Library sectors in the Arab countries and forming a regional power interacting with the international Library society. It also provides an comprehensive guide to be introduced to the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA).

The regional office of IFLA Centre for Arabic Speaking Libraries is held responsible for setting the plan for the executive project, alongside with its stages, timeline, and expected results. Not only that, but also envisioning the electronic portal based on the information offered by the administration of information and documentation concerning the field of library based inputs via an assigned team from different Arab countries to establish basis and standards of data specifications and keying it in Arabic, English and French. We shall be officially addressing all interested parties, i.e. Ministry of culture, Ministry of education and many others inviting them to support the project as well as providing it with necessary human and financial resources, as well as providing essential creative ideas.