Pardisan Qom Library is a Serious Cultural Concern

According to the correspondent of the Iran Book News Agency (IBNA) in Qom, Mohammad Ghaffari, in a press conference held at Qom Central Library on the occasion of Book and Reading Week, while commemorating the passing of Allameh Tabatabai, the great Quranic interpreter, explained the status of the province’s libraries and outlined the programs for Book Week, answering reporters’ questions. He announced that during Book Week, a ceremony will be held to honor librarians, top readers, and supporters of reading culture, during which the memoir book of a martyr’s mother will also be unveiled.

Referring to the statistics of active members in the province’s public libraries, Ghaffari stated: Currently, Qom has 24,570 active members, of whom 23,250 are women and 1,329 are men. The largest age group among members is interested individuals aged 11 to 20.

Ghaffari mentioned that Ayatollah Khamenei Library in Qom is one of the country’s unique libraries in providing services to the visually impaired, adding: In this library, in addition to Braille services, audiobook production is also carried out by volunteer writers, narrators, and visually impaired cultural activists, and the special section for the visually impaired is one of the busiest parts of the libraries. Providing comprehensive services to this group is one of the most important policies of the provincial public libraries institution.

He stated: Currently, a 90% waiver for overdue fines is on the agenda, and the annual membership fee has been set at 35,000 Tomans. A new national library membership plan has also been launched, allowing every Iranian to automatically connect to the country’s public library network using only their national ID code.

The head of the Public Libraries Department of Qom Province, referring to the human resources situation, said: The recruitment process is carried out centrally and nationally, and last year, 25 of our staff retired or were transferred, and we are pursuing the replacement of new specialized personnel.

Regarding library operating hours, he clarified: The province’s libraries operate until 7 or 8 PM, but during special periods such as the university entrance exam season, their operating hours are extended.

The head of the Public Libraries Department of Qom Province, emphasizing the need to develop reading spaces in the Pardisan region of Qom, considered the absence of a public library in this area a serious cultural concern and announced ongoing consultations for the construction of a library there.

Ghaffari further referred to the new plan of the National Public Libraries Institution and said: According to this plan, every national ID code is automatically recognized as a member of public libraries, and the membership process will become simpler for people. Initial membership for visitors is free, and citizens can register their membership online through the library’s internet system without needing to visit in person.

This cultural official said: Qom has also taken steps towards digitizing reading services and strengthening easy public access to cultural resources.

Ghaffari, while appreciating the provincial media, considered the role of information dissemination effective in promoting the culture of reading and said: The continuation of Qom’s cultural growth path depends on the synergy of people, institutions, and media to further flourish the capital of knowledge in this city.