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Doha, Qatar: At a time when screens dominate daily life, the Qatar National Library (QNL) has revealed in it’s newly released 2024 annual report that reading physical books still remains a deeply valued practice in Qatar.
The report “Between Our Shelves: A Space For Everyone” — published online yesterday — underscores how the Library continues to anchor the nation’s cultural and intellectual life. Over the past year, the Library welcomed 1.19 million physical visits, equivalent to nearly one-third of Qatar’s population. Each visit, the report notes, represents “a choice to engage with knowledge and culture.”
Even more striking, 403,615 physical books were borrowed and carried into homes and classrooms, each one becoming, as the Library describes it, “a personal journey of learning or imagination.”
“In a world navigating complex global challenges, we remained steadfast in our mission to provide equitable access to knowledge,” said Executive Director of QNL, Tan Huism, in her introduction message.
“The Library welcomed a record 1.19 million visits — nearly a third of Qatar’s population, an extraordinary testament to the growing trust our community places in us. Whether through safeguarding Qatar’s documentary heritage, advancing digital literacy or leading open-access initiatives across the region, we continue to build a knowledge ecosystem that is inclusive, forward-thinking and deeply rooted in our national identity.”
The annual report demonstrates how QNL bridges tradition and innovation. While physical books continue to inspire readers, the Library also expanded its digital services.
It reported 2.8 million digital resource downloads and over 77,000 app downloads, turning phones and tablets into “portable libraries.” On average, users spent two hours per session on the app. At the same time, 965,563 pages of Qatar’s cultural heritage were digitised, ensuring the preservation of the nation’s documentary legacy while making it accessible worldwide.
Reading culture flourished beyond the library walls. 9,934 reading packages were delivered directly to families’ homes, transforming living rooms into extensions of the Library. More than 6,300 attendees took part in the One Book, One Doha festival, which fostered a shared cultural experience around Palestinian literature. In total, 92,700 participants engaged with QNL initiatives, ranging from author talks to digital literacy workshops.
Education remained central to the Library’s mission. 12,823 students participated in learning programmes beyond textbooks, while 156 school visits integrated Library resources directly into classrooms. Through the Murshidi mentorship programme, more than 200 students were connected with professional role models, and another 200 individuals received writing consultations to strengthen communication skills.
QNL has extended Qatar’s contributions to knowledge through 5,000 published items in Manara, its open-access platform, which recorded 281,800 views and downloads worldwide. The Library also supported 1,292 open access publications, removing barriers to research dissemination.
