Qatar National Library

More than a million books, a heritage collection including rare manuscripts and archival documents are located in a single open public space of the Qatar National Library in the center of the university district Education City

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Overview of Qatar National Library

Qatar ID holders (citizens and holders of a residence permit) can borrow any books completely free of charge. Tourists can not only enjoy the architecture of the building, but also lie on soft poufs, have a snack in a cafe, work or use a computer.

Qatar National Library

Qatar National Library Building

The building with an area of 45,000 m² of unusual shape was designed by the famous architect Rem Koolhaas. Externally, the building resembles a box folded into a rhombus of two sheets of paper.

Entering the library, you involuntarily imagine yourself entering a spaceship - the front doors, as if through an open airlock, are invited to board. It's worth seeing. – Gidza

Entrance to the National Library building

The internal concept involved moving away from the usual shelving rooms towards openness. The idea was that by raising the floor levels, you can make even the most remote shelving accessible and visible from the center, thereby connecting the reader and the books. The large facade glazing provides comfortable lighting for reading.

Shelving and storage of the heritage collection

In the center of the library, at a depth of 6 meters in a yellow travertine veneer, there is a heritage collection, conceptually resembling an ancient excavation site.

Qatar National Library's Heritage Collection

The shelves and bookshelves are made of white marble, as are the floors of the building.

Modern technologies

All books are equipped with RFID tags that allow you to automate their sorting and return to shelves in pre-planned places.

Multi-level shelving and aisle systems make it easy to move between rows and levels.

Computers with Internet access

A large number of computers are located on the library's territory, allowing you to get information from the library's digital collection.

Library History

The current library building was opened on April 16, 2018. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani posted the millionth book at the ceremony. Qatar's National Library includes: the Doha National Library, a public library, a university research library, as well as a collection of historical heritage.