INLA Director Saad Eskander put together a wish list of titles identified as vital for the reconstruction of the National Library, following consultation with a number of libraries including that of the London School of Economics, Eskander’s alma mater, to form the basis of the appeal. The majority of the donated titles were from the wish list.
The British Library noted that the measure of the importance of the donation is apparent in the fact that the National Library’s book budget this year is around $7,000. Eskander said, “On behalf of the INLA’s staff, I would like to express my gratitude to all the British academic institutions and the British Library, which kindly sent books to us during these difficult times. We view your action as a true symbol of solidarity with your colleagues in Baghdad. The donated books will certainly fill a gap in our social sciences collections. They will be, therefore, very useful to our readers, who are university students and private scholars.”
The British Library has also provided the National Library of Iraq with copies of its own publications, and it hosts Eskander’s blog diary on its website, which has drawn global attention to the seriousness of the situation under which the library in Baghdad is operating. In an April 14 interview with American Libraries, Eskander said the moral support of colleagues around the world helped sustain him.
Posted June 8, 2007.