Amman: Director General of the Department of the National Library, Nidal Ayasrah, met with Ahmed Abdullah Al Buainain, Secretary-General of the National Archives of Qatar and President of the UNESCO Memory of the World Committee for the Arab Region (MOWCAR), to explore avenues of cooperation in archiving and documentary heritage preservation.
According to Jordan News Agency, the two officials discussed strengthening partnerships in preservation, restoration, digitization, and institutional knowledge exchange. They emphasized the importance of joint efforts within the Memory of the World Committee and activating cultural initiatives that support the Arab national memory.
Ayasrah highlighted the importance of establishing sustainable institutional relationships and expanding cooperation with the National Archives of Qatar, noting that such Arab partnerships are essential for documenting and preserving collective memory for future generations.
Al Buainain commended the National Library of Jordan's role in safeguarding historical records and heritage, noting its advanced institutional and technical capabilities. He stated that the discussions reflect a broader push to unify Arab efforts in documentation and promote initiatives serving shared cultural memory.
Furthermore, Al Buainain underscored the need for strategic partnerships among national archives and libraries in the Arab world to enhance cultural identity and increase Arab representation in international archival records, particularly within the Memory of the World Programme. He mentioned that the National Archives of Qatar is advancing a modern national strategy focused on digital transformation and community-based documentation practices to meet the needs of researchers and academics.
The possibility of jointly preparing submissions for the Memory of the World Programme and exchanging expertise in digital preservation and restoration to strengthen the Arab presence in global documentary records was also discussed. Ayasrah provided Al Buainain with a tour of the library's departments, showcasing Jordan's history through displayed documents and photographs.