QNL saw 1.19 million visitors in 2024, over 0.4 million books checked out

Doha, Qatar: At a time when screens dominate daily life, the Qatar National Library (QNL) has revealed in it s newly released 2024 annual report that...

Doha, Qatar: At a time when screens dominate daily life, the Qatar National Library (QNL) has revealed in it’s newly released 2024 annual report that reading physical books still remains a deeply valued practice in Qatar.

The report “Between Our Shelves: A Space For Everyone” — published online yesterday — underscores how the Library continues to anchor the nation’s cultural and intellectual life. Over the past year, the Library welcomed 1.19 million physical visits, equivalent to nearly one-third of Qatar’s population. Each visit, the report notes, represents “a choice to engage with knowledge and culture.” 

Even more striking, 403,615 physical books were borrowed and carried into homes and classrooms, each one becoming, as the Library describes it, “a personal journey of learning or imagination.” 

“In a world navigating complex global challenges, we remained steadfast in our mission to provide equitable access to knowledge,” said Executive Director of QNL, Tan Huism, in her introduction message.

“The Library welcomed a record 1.19 million visits — nearly a third of Qatar’s population, an extraordinary testament to the growing trust our community places in us. Whether through safeguarding Qatar’s documentary heritage, advancing digital literacy or leading open-access initiatives across the region, we continue to build a knowledge ecosystem that is inclusive, forward-thinking and deeply rooted in our national identity.”