Kurdistan on the path to modernizing public libraries

According to Khabaronline News Agency from Sanandaj, Masoumeh Hassani Khonsar, Director-General of Public Libraries of Kurdistan Province, stated on Wednesday, November 12, at a meeting with media professionals in Kurdistan Province, elaborating on the programs for Book Week: November 15, named “Book, Reading, and Librarian Day” to commemorate the anniversary of Allameh Seyyed Mohammad Hossein Tabatabai, the esteemed Quranic commentator and author of Tafsir al-Mizan, is a valuable opportunity to promote a culture of reading in society.

Referring to the start of special Book Week programs in the province’s public libraries, she added: This week, various cultural initiatives will be implemented simultaneously across the province, including a book donation campaign with the slogan “I am heard by reading,” a waiver of overdue fines for borrowed books, and the implementation of a nationwide membership scheme in public libraries.

The Director-General of Public Libraries of Kurdistan Province continued: The nationwide membership scheme allows members to benefit from the resources, study halls, and services of public libraries across the country for life.

Khonsar also announced the ceremony to honor outstanding librarians and libraries in the province on November 19, stating: In this ceremony, the honorees will be recognized with the “Hamkhwan” badge, which is specifically for prominent activists in promoting the culture of reading.

She added: During Book Week, various programs will be implemented in the province’s public libraries, including the unveiling of several book titles, holding book exhibitions in Sanandaj, Saqqez, and Qorveh counties, reading sessions, educational workshops, book reviews, literary and Quranic sessions, and special programs for children.

She further stated: The province’s public libraries house over one million volumes of books, and approximately 50,000 active members benefit from their services. Additionally, the public libraries of the province have a total area of over 26,000 square meters and 152 active personnel in the headquarters and county centers.

She concluded by noting: Kurdistan’s libraries, being over 20 years old, require fundamental repair, redesign, and renovation, which necessitates the allocation of significantly more funding.