Engaging Partners: Arab Peninsula Regional Group WDL 2012 Partners Meeting World Digital Library

1. Engaging Partners: Arab Peninsula Regional Group • WDL 2012 Partners Meeting • World Digital Library • Washington, D.C. • Wednesday, December 5th, 2012 Mark Paul, Head, Partnerships Qatar National Library Qatar Foundation Doha, Qatar

2. Qatar Foundation • Supporting Qatar: • from a carbon economy to a knowledge economy • a cradle of innovation, based in the Middle East, but global in scope and impact • a creator of knowledge • Qatar National Vision 2030 (July 2008): • use resources to create knowledge economy • development of human capitol as priority for next 20 years • gave Qatar Foundation exciting mandate to be the ‘engine’ driving the development of human capital • Unlocking Human Potential through: • Education • Science & Research • Community Development • Benefitting: • Qatar • Region • Partners • World

3. Qatar Foundation • Supporting Qatar: • from a carbon economy to a knowledge economy • a cradle of innovation, based in the Middle East, but global in scope and impact • a creator of knowledge • Qatar National Vision 2030 (July 2008): • use resources to create knowledge economy • development of human capitol as priority for next 20 years • gave Qatar Foundation exciting mandate to be the ‘engine’ driving the development of human capital • Unlocking Human Potential through: • Education • Science & Research • Community Development • Benefitting: • Qatar • Region • Partners • World http://www.qf.org.qa

4. Qatar National Library • Official Announcement of the new Qatar National Library, November 19th, 2012 • Supports Qatar Foundation’s Goals through: • Research • Education/Instruction • Community Activities • Serving as: • National Library • Public Library • Academic Library

5. Qatar National Library • Official Announcement of the new Qatar National Library, November 19th, 2012 • Supports Qatar Foundation’s Goals through: • Research • Education/Instruction • Community Activities • Serving as: • National Library • Public Library • Academic Library http://www.qnl.qa

6. Arab Peninsula Regional Group • First meeting held December 2010 in Doha at QF • Born from idea of Carolyn Young, the Head of the WDL Office in the QF Central Library • A meeting was convened of WDL members from Arab countries in Washington at the WDL Charter meeting in June 2010 • Idea to foster cooperation on WDL among Arab country members • Primarily directors and other administrators attended from WDL members and prospective members • WDL staff present to deliver key information and training • One important focus was on opportunities for capacity building in digital conversion and technical assistance • Three new Arab countries joined WDL as a result

7. Arab Peninsula Regional Group • First meeting held December 2010 in Doha at QF • Born from idea of Carolyn Young, the Head of the WDL Office in the QF Central Library • A meeting was convened of WDL members from Arab countries in Washington at the WDL Charter meeting in June 2010 • Idea to foster cooperation on WDL among Arab country members • Primarily directors and other administrators attended from WDL members and prospective members • WDL staff present to deliver key information and training • One important focus was on opportunities for capacity building in digital conversion and technical assistance • Three new Arab countries joined WDL as a result

8. Arab Peninsula Regional Group • Second meeting held February 2012 in Doha at QF • Dissemination of information and training • More technicians attended by means of nominations • WDL staff present to provide training • 20 participants representing 10 institutions • kk • Third meeting planned for April 2013 in Doha • Entire meeting will be a hands-on training workshop • Participants will be encouraged to bring an item(s) to work on during the workshop • Those unable to bring items will be provided items for use in the workshop • Participants will be divided into groups with sessions repeating at cross-posted times so all participants can attend all sessions

9. Arab Peninsula Regional Group • Second meeting held February 2012 in Doha at QF • Dissemination of information and training • More technicians attended by means of nominations • WDL staff present to provide training • 20 participants representing 10 institutions • kk • Third meeting planned for April 2013 in Doha • Entire meeting will be a hands-on training workshop • Participants will be encouraged to bring an item(s) to work on during the workshop. • Those unable to bring items will be provided items for use in the workshop • Participants will be divided into groups with sessions repeating at cross-posted times so all participants can attend all sessions.

10. Group Members • Members: • There are no fees to be a member • Participation is voluntary • Currently there are 10 institutions represented • One institution is in the process of joining WDL and have requested support from the QNL • All are welcome, though focus is on the Gulf region for now

11. Capacity Building • Efforts to increase capacity within Arab countries • Identify location with both high level content and high level need for a digital conversion center • Working with the WDL the goal will be to fund one new digital conversion center in the region • Continue workshops for Arab Peninsula Regional Group • Investigate individualized training needs of regional members • Support one personalized on-site WDL training for regional member • Increase documentation, training materials, etc., in Arabic

12. Content and User Engagement • Arabic Content: • 2012 to-date saw WDL content in Arabic increase by 175 items • 2012 to-date saw WDL content on Arab or Islamic Science increase by 79 items (59 of which were in Arabic) • User Engagement: • Publicity/PR/Sharing • Value added materials (students, teachers) • Content, content, content

13. Arabic Statistics • Arabic ranks third on the WDL site for items cataloged by language (behind Spanish and English) • Use of Arabic interface doubled for 2012 to-date over 2011 with a total of 124,293 visits and 643,983 page views • Saudi Arabia was the higher user of the Arabic interface • The United States was about in the middle of user counts of the Arabic interface • Of the 79 items added in 2012 to-date on Arab or Islamic Science 16 were in Latin, 2 in Persian, and 2 in Ottoman Turkish and the remainder in Arabic

14. Top Countries by Visitor:

15. Encourage regional cultural heritage libraries to join WDL • Increase Arab sourced content on WDL • Focus on practical ways to build capacity for digital conversion in developing countries in our region • Promote WDL usage to Arab users in libraries, schools, universities, etc. • Develop a wider community of WDL members in the region to support development of Arab content and interfaces. • Increase use of social media Next Steps in the Arab Peninsula

16. How can you increase overall WDL content? • How can you positively impact capacity building in your state, county, district, country, region? • Do you work with or liaise with any library, university, cultural center, museum, etc., that has Arabic content? • Let them know about the WDL. • Let them know about the Arab Peninsula Regional Group. • Let them know about the Qatar National Library and share with them my contact information Next Steps For You?

17. Thank You! Mark Paul mapaul@qf.org.qa Questions?