King Abdulaziz Public Library Promotes and Documents Arab, Islamic Knowledge, History

King Abdulaziz Public Library in Riyadh has boosted the presence of Arab and Islamic knowledge through diverse cultural programs that modernize heritage, highlight its linguistic, literary, and artistic components, and document this heritage to create a rich narrative that enhances the awareness and intellectual outlook of the Arab individual in today’s world.
 This month, the library’s scientific publishing program surpassed 700 publications, including Arabic and translated books, international language titles, and children’s books. Since its founding, the library’s cultural strategy has centered on the book as a primary source of knowledge, emphasizing its vital role in shaping readers’ awareness through a national cultural project aimed at renewing engagement with books. The library also promotes a culture of reading across all segments of society through its mobile learning resource buses, which have delivered knowledge to villages, rural communities, gardens, and public centers throughout the Kingdom.
 A key feature of the library’s cultural mission is its focus on the historical and cultural heritage of the Arab and Islamic worlds. Arab heritage and Islamic holy sites form a central part of this mission. The library houses 8,571 books on heritage, over 8,000 manuscripts, and 35,000 rare books. It also holds 700 rare maps, particularly of the Arabian Peninsula dating back to 1482, some of which are in ancient Latin. In the field of numismatics, the library has collected more than 8,000 rare gold, silver, and bronze coins from various Islamic eras.
 The library preserves significant sources and references of religious, intellectual, and literary heritage. It has published a wide range of books documenting the aesthetics of the Kingdom’s heritage, including more than 20 illustrated volumes on the Kingdom’s antiquities and traditions. These works, through narrative and imagery, highlight the country’s development and showcase its heritage, history, and landmarks, covering topics such as archaeology, horsemanship, folk traditions, and local customs.
 The library presents its cultural strategy through a distinguished approach reflected in its wide-ranging programs and activities, including forums, exhibitions, and public engagements that target various segments of society. It offers researchers and scholars comprehensive resources to support high-quality scientific inquiry and prioritizes the integration of modern media, digital transformation, and evolving modes of communication to enhance local and international engagement in the fields of knowledge and enlightenment.