The Role of Libraries in Global Peace

Rahmatoallah Fattahi, in an interview with a reporter from the Iran Book News Agency (IBNA) in Mashhad, elaborated on the roots of conflicts and wars in the world, referring to the United Nations’ 2025 slogan, ‘Arise Now for Global Peace.’

Emphasizing that institutions must also strive for peace against warmongering, he stated: “These institutions can be categorized into two groups: international organizations and national organizations, among which libraries, museums, associations, and cultural centers are considered national institutions.”

This faculty member of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad further enumerated the inherent characteristics and strengths of libraries for advocating, promoting, and expanding peace, adding: “The collection of resources in libraries is, by its very nature, a symbol of global and accumulated human knowledge.”

Focusing on the ways libraries strive to prevent conflicts and wars, he stated: “Among these paths are ‘enhancing public understanding of ideologies, religions, dissent, and human rights,’ ‘improving the capacity for coexistence, mutual respect, and tolerance,’ ‘raising public awareness about war and peace,’ and ‘informing the public about the various dangers and consequences of war’.”

Fattahi continued: “Other avenues include ‘developing access to social networks advocating coexistence and peace,’ ‘providing services to researchers in the field of war and peace,’ and ‘capacity building and opportunity creation for individual growth, reduction of deprivation, bridging gaps, and cultural and economic development’.”

This professor of information science and knowledge studies also spoke about the paths librarians can take for international understanding and lasting peace, saying: “‘Increasing awareness to reduce the gap between developed and developing worlds,’ ‘influencing politicians’ inclination towards peace and understanding,’ and ‘holding international conferences for interaction and collaboration’ are among these paths.”

He added: “Other ways include ‘developing international cooperation among libraries for universal and equal access to information’ and ‘supporting the free flow of information for international understanding and global peace’.”

Fattahi further highlighted points centered on libraries and the realization of human rights, increasing environmental awareness to prevent conflicts and wars, and striving to eliminate deprivation and bridge class disparities.

Stating that libraries can play a role in global peace, he referred to issues such as the global role of libraries as cultural and knowledge institutions, reliance on professional principles and mission, efforts to raise human societies’ awareness of the dangers and devastating consequences of war, and efforts to promote a culture of peacemaking, altruism, and tolerance.