The National Library and Archives conducts a lecture on the importance of historical research which its promotes and advocates
The National Library and Archives conducts a lecture on the importance of historical research which its promotes and advocates
The National Library and Archives conducted a virtual lecture delivered to the University of Sharjah’s PhD scholars. The lecture tackled the importance of historical research and stressed that the National Library and Archives has a remarkable history in supporting academic historic research and providing postgraduate students whether of master's or doctorate degrees as well as general researchers with documented sources, photos and historical documents.
The National Library and Archives’ lecture was well received and followed by a large number of University of Sharjah Academics. Mrs. Fatima Sultan Al Mazrouei, Head of Historical Archives Section, and Mrs. Grace Kuruvilla, Senior Archives Specialist depicted the history of the National Library and Archives which was established upon the Founding Father and Builder Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan’s directives in 1968 in implementation of his aspired vision and mission aiming at strategic tasks and objectives.
The lecture touched on the National Library and Archives’ role in preserving the memory of the nation for future generations, and its recognized efforts in conducting and presenting documented research studies on the history and heritage of the UAE and the Gulf region to enrich the cultural circles, and organizing specialized conferences such as the International Translation Conference, the UAE Oral History Conference, and the Library and Information Conference, apart from its participation in major events, festivals and book fairs in the UAE and abroad, and its keen interest in the collection of various information from its original sources, its documentation of the UAE history through newspapers and other sources, the preservation of the documents it acquires from the UAE local and Federal government agencies various archives, and its membership in major international bodies and organizations of its specialization, at the forefront of which is the International Council on Archives, of which it is an important and effective member.
The lecture also shed light on the National Library and Archives’ Historical Archives including: Qasr Al Hosn Archives, British, American, Dutch, Portuguese, and Ottoman Archives among other important international Archives.
The lecture finally focused on documents sources and their various access methods and acquisition sources including: the British Archives, the American Archives, the Postal Museum Archives, the Geographical Society Archives, the Durham University Archives in Britain, the Israeli Archives, the Portuguese Archives, the Bombay Archives, the Dutch Archives, and other sources which the National Library and Archives resorts to for archival material acquisition.
The two lecturers supported their speech with a large number of important documents and maps relating to the history of the UAE and the Arabian Peninsula region.
The lecture introduced the audience to the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive’s website, how to employ it in research to access its original and authentic historical documents. It also introduced them to the National Library and Archives’ recent publications, the Chronicles of the Sheikhs documenting Emirati history, the UAE renaissance highlighting place and human resources’ development.
The lecture discussed archival material acquisition methods and the National Library and Archives’ service provision channels. Finally, the lecture was concluded with students and audience great interaction through various inquiries. Academics and students alike commended the National Library and Archives’ great national role and services that help preserve the memory of the nation through acquainting the public with it.
