Al-Assad National Library, is not only an architectural landmark, but a research venue

Al-Assad National Library, with its symbolic structural design, overlooking the Omayyad square in the middle of the Syrian capital,  is a Syrian architectural landmark that is unlikely to be passed  by  and not noticed. Al-Assad National Library is one of the largest and most important libraries in Syrian and the Arab region.

It was established in 1984 to collect and preserve and sort transcripts, books, magazines, in addition to all kinds of written items connected to Syrian culture and civilizations. As it is open to researchers and scholars from over the world especially those interested in the Syrian culture, but not restricted to those, as the library welcomes common visitors, as well as school and university tours. The library receives daily visitors and can approximately host 750 readers at one time in all reading halls. All citizens and visitors can benefit from the library services through a free annual subscription card.

The library complex of nine floors, located in the center of the capital, Damascus, and overlooks the Umayyad Square, covers an area of 22000 m sq.;  is surrounded by a landscape gardens extended on a space of 6.000 m sq. 

The library cultural goals have a wide range of perspectives,  the most prominent one is the annual book fair held in September of each year since 1985. The library hosts as well hundreds of official and private festivities and cultural and artistic events.

The library is the largest research platform aiding scientific research and researchers through the provision of all research requirements, starting from databases to microfilms minimizing and other research materials based on the technological developments associated with the movement of scientific research.

The library seeks to collect ancient Arab heritage, specifically in the field of (manuscripts), but as well to preserve, conserve those manuscripts through sterilization and restoration.

Due to the current conditions of the Corona virus and just like all the book fairs in Arab Countries, the Book Fair for the current year has been postponed with the hope that the coming days will witness creative ideas by the library staff to keep pace with modern technological developments  to present online services for those interested. 

Report: Lama Alhassanieh