During National Library Week, We Can Thank the Arabs for Founding the First Ones

posted on: Apr 13, 2017

BY: Diego Reyes/Contributing Writer

This week marks the beginning of National Library Week, a time to celebrate the contributions of our nation’s libraries and librarians, while also promoting library use and support. First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries across the country every April.

During the mid-1950s, after conducting various forms of research, it was concluded that Americans were spending more of their time on radios, television, and musical instruments rather than books. With this concerning information, the ALA and the American Book Publishers came together and formed a nonprofit citizens organization called the National Book Committee in 1954. They had many objectives ranging from “encouraging people to read in their increasing leisure time” to “improving incomes and health” and finally “developing strong and happy family lives. It was in 1957 when the committee developed a plan for National Library Week, but it wasn’t until 1958 took place.

In light of National Library Week, let’s focus on the founders of the first libraries and how their contributions have shaped how libraries function in today’s world.

The first library in the world was the Royal Library of Alexandria, Egypt founded in 300 B.C. It was one of the largest and most significant libraries of the ancient world. Its main purpose was to show off the wealth of Egypt, with research as a lesser goal, but its contents were used to aid the ruler of Egypt. Alexander the Great founded Alexandria in Egypt, and his successor Pharaoh Ptolomy II Soter, founded the Royal Library.

During the Middle Ages, Arabs were leading the way for libraries, as well. A good example is the House of Wisdom, a major intellectual center in Baghdad during the Islamic Golden Age. This was the place where many scholars would gather to share information, ideas, and culture. Another contribution was the University of al-Qarawiyyin, a university located in Fez, Morocco. It is to this day the oldest existing and continually operating library.

Today, Arabs continue to contribute to the enrichment of libraries. More recently, the King Abdulaziz Public Library located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia was built. Founded on December 15, 1999, it is the most expensive project sitting at $40 million. This shows how important libraries are to the Arab community and all their contributions that they make.

Arab Americans continue to make use of libraries in their local communities by attending and teaching ESL classes, using the resources to find work, and become integrated into American culture and society. They see it as a great tool that benefits everyone.We can thank the inquisitive Arabs, who led the translation movement, for the libraries we see and appreciate today.

We can thank the inquisitive Arabs, who led the translation movement, for the libraries we see and appreciate today.