King Fahad National Library

King Fahad National Library
King Fahad Library in 2022
24°41′9″N 46°41′13″E / 24.68583°N 46.68694°E / 24.68583; 46.68694
Location	Olaya, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Type	National library
Established	1990; 35 years ago (1990)
Collection
Size	Around 2,400,000 items
Other information
Director	Faisal bin Salman Al Saud[1]
Website	kfnl.gov.sa

The King Fahad National Library (KFNL, Arabic: مكتبة الملك فهد الوطنية) is the legal deposit and copyright library for Saudi Arabia. KFNL was established in 1983 in response to an initiative made by the people of Riyadh when King Fahd ascended the throne. The project was announced in 1983 and the implementation started in 1986. Now to this day, the library is known for its sustainability and up-to-date energy concepts.^[2]

Profile

The library was established in 1990^[3] and is based in Riyadh.^[4] Among its special collections are the libraries of Ihsan Abbas, Sheikh Muhammad Ibn Abd al Aziz al Mani, Sheikh Abd Allah Ibn Muhammad Ibn Khamis, Sheikh Uthman Ibn Hamad al Haqil, Sheikh Muhammad Husayn Zaydan, Fawzan Ibn Abd al Aziz al Fawzan, Yusuf Ibrahim al Sallum, Muhammad Musa al Salim, Sheikh Muhammad Mansur al Shaqha, Sheikh Abd Allah Abd al Aziz al Anqari, Sheikh Abd Allah Ibn Umar al Sheikh, Sheikh Abd Allah Ibn Muhammad al Nasban, and Sheikh Husayn Ibn Abd Allah al Jarisi.^[3]

History of the library

There was a desire of the people of the city of Riyadh to express their feelings of love and loyalty to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. So to express by setting up a memorial build, was the announcement of the Library Project at the ceremony, which held in 1983 which received the support of material from the state itself.

The building consists of a ground floor topped by three additional floors, crowned by a planetarium. Its design reflects a blend of modern architectural style and traditional Arabic decorative elements, including intricate inscriptions and marble finishes. One of the most distinctive features of this cultural landmark is its strategic location in a vital area between King Fahd Road to the west and Olaya Street to the east. This prime location significantly enhances the library’s ability to fulfill its role, thanks to its high visibility, easy accessibility, and central position in modern Riyadh.

The library also includes designated areas for rest and waiting within the building.

The project began in the year 1406 AH under the supervision of the Riyadh Municipality. By 1408 AH, a temporary administration was established to guide the planning and development process. This team organized and laid the foundation for the library’s administrative and technical departments. In 1409 AH, construction was completed, and the building was furnished and equipped.

King Fahd National Library has been able during the brief period since its inception to realize many ambitious goals. That launched mainly from the composition of infrastructure in the organization and development of human resources and the development of library collections necessary and equipment. To carry out its tasks, and achieve their goals in the areas of documentation and preservation of the Saudi intellectual production. And provide information services, in line with the comprehensive development witnessed by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In the area of building the library Collectibles it has mastered many of the information printed materials, and audio-visual materials. Such as optical disks and the thumbnail, local documents, coins, rare books and manuscripts, as the library finally got the first batch of Arabic manuscripts and precious from Princeton University in the US, that were about photographs of all manuscripts and rare books. That the library received as a gift of Prince Faisal bin Fahd Al Saud, the then General President of Youth Welfare. Since the application filing system and international Numbering in 1414H, the library was able to record and indexing of many current books and periodicals, it also began in the preparation of the final arrangements for recording audio and video materials and deposited according to the national Filing system requirements. Thus, the library acquires them the largest group comprising the one place, and the documentation and registration operations carried out by the library changed the pattern of the estimated statistics prevailing, by the Saudi intellectual production volume. Both in the domestic sources or foreign, and since the library of the National Center for the deposit and registration became a contributing role positive improvement in the form of Saudi writers, and published, and by definition. Through indexing in during deployment and allocation of international standard numbers.

The library is responsible for managing equipment and conservation systems, as well as the preservation, restoration, and maintenance of manuscripts and rare books. It also maintains databases, implements authentication mechanisms, and provides access to information sources stored on optical media. Additionally, it develops internal information networks to organize and manage the flow of information.

In terms of information services, the library offers assistance and responds to inquiries through various communication channels. It also plays an active role in local and Arab exhibitions, promoting its own publications and showcasing Saudi intellectual output. Furthermore, the library engages in communication, cooperation programs, and the exchange of information and publications with both Arab and international organizations—demonstrating its significant cultural and civilizational role at home and abroad.

Indexing

The library indexes the contents of Saudi periodicals such as original or translated essays, book reviews, thesis, bibliographic works, researches submitted to symposiums and conferences and published legislations for customers service beside indexing of Saudi and non-Saudi periodicals dealing with Saudi Arabia and Arab peninsula.

Collection maintenance

To protect its collections from damage caused by misuse and environmental factors, the library sterilizes manuscripts and rare documents using modern equipment.

Binding: The library has a dedicated binding unit for published and photocopied books. Rare books are carefully preserved before binding and are often finished with gold tooling.

Microforms: To safeguard its collections and save space, the library converts newspapers, books, manuscripts, and financial documents into microform. This helps preserve the materials and reduces the risk of physical deterioration.

Photocopying: The library offers photocopying services for individuals, institutions, and its own internal use. While the library does not operate a lending system, all photocopying services are carried out with full respect for intellectual property rights.

Manuscript and Document Preservation: To ensure the long-term preservation of rare manuscripts and documents, the library has established a dedicated preservation unit focused solely on maintaining these valuable materials.

Legal Deposit

One of the most library achievements is the legal deposit act that issued by the royal decree No. (M/26 on 7/9/1412 A.H.) . Since application of this act in 1414 A.H., the library started to register all what is published inside the kingdom and giving it a deposit number before publishing. Regarding the retrospective deposit of old books, the library does its best to collect rare and old books through cooperation with the authors, gifts and purchasing of the first Saudi publications that are not available in the library or bookshops, the library has collected a lot of old and rare Saudi publications which enable the library to control Saudi intellectual property.

Publishing

King Fahd National Library Act assures the library role in contribution and publishing of researches, studies and library and information services guides, so, the library published a lot of books, references and guides to serve its customers. To promote library and information services and the history of Saudi Arabia sources, the library issued (King Fahd National Library Journal), a semi-annual journal beside (King Fahd National Library Abstracts Bulletin).

Registration and International Standard Book Number for Saudi Arabia

The library had made and agreement with the International Center for Publication Registration and Specification of International Standard Book and Serial Numbers (ISBN, ISSN), to deal as a national center responsible for book registration, the numbers appear on Saudi publications, beside cataloguing in publication that improved the shape of Saudi publication, and unease the procedure of bibliographic control in both Arab and international level, the library leads other Arab libraries in this field regarding the application of international standards as witnessed by international centers, though, the library provides the international centers in France and Germany with adequate control of Saudi publications including Saudi publishers and their addresses. The international centers issue annual guides of publications published throughout the world including Saudi Arabia, therefore, Saudi publication became international and the libraries, information centers and the publishers became aware of Saudi publications, publishers and their addresses which made Saudi publication well acquainted worldwide, the library also provides UNESCO annually with a report on publishing and translation activity in Saudi Arabia, the library has also been selected as the national center for the deposit of IFLA publications.

Preparing information

The library receives annually so many inquiries and deep search questions which need data collection and prepare it in forms that suits the customer's need, the library made many bibliographies of Saudi intellectual property from books, periodicals and translations to publish in UNESCO and Arab Organization for Education, Culture and Science publications through Saudi ministry of education, the library also provides statistical data about publishing in Saudi Arabia for international organizations and researchers all over the world.

Reference services

The reference services provided to the library customers developed as the development of information resources that includes full text databases beside the main library database, the library receives many reference and research inquiries directly or through telephone, the library issues library cards for its usual customers to enable them getting proper service.

Exchanging circulation

The library made an agreement with some Saudi libraries and information centers to apply exchanging circulation system, this system may include more Saudi libraries in future under the supervision of the library.

Computer output access

The library provides computer output for its customers, these outputs include bibliographical information and texts from different references and information resources.

Manuscript Heritage Safety

Manuscripts have a great importance in history, link tool between past and present, manuscript is a register of peoples heritage, their customs and traditions, culture and development, therefore, loss of manuscript means loss of history. Manuscript heritage safety act, issued by a royal decree No. (m/23) dated, (16/5/1422 A.H.) that represents an important ring in the chain of Saudi cultural system. This system is one of the most tasks of the national library. Through this system, King Fahd National library tries to register all the original manuscripts kept in the governmental and non-governmental institutions and individuals by giving it a number and a certificate of ownership that includes owner of the manuscript's name, the title, the author and the date of writing, this information help the owner in case of lost, sale or if he wanted to take it outside the kingdom.

Services offered to individual owners of original manuscripts

1-Registration certificate of manuscript. 2-Scientific form of manuscript data. 3-Manuscript photocopy upon owner's request. 4-Sterilization of manuscript, that makes it last. 5-Entering manuscript data in Saudi Union Manuscript Catalogue.

References

1. "King Salman issues royal decrees". Argaam. 12 December 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
2. "King Fahad National Library". Gerber Architekten.
3. Ayman Shabana (17 December 2009), "Saudi Arabia: Libraries, Archives and Museums", in Marcia J. Bates (ed.), Encyclopedia of Library and Information Sciences, Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press (published 2010), ISBN 9780849397127
4. "Cultural Institutions". Saudi Embassy (Washington DC). Archived from the original on 24 August 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2014.

External links

• Official website

• Saudi Arabia portal