In May 2003, the Institute revealed that it was coordinating a $300,000 campaign to buy books for three Iraqi Universities whose libraries suffered severe losses during the recent conflict there.
Rather than collecting donations and second-hand ‘left-overs’ the group working on this initiative believes that from similar initiatives in the past (such as the conflict in Kosovo in 1999), the best course of action is to ask the academics responsible for teaching and research on-site what material was needed, rather than to assume either superiority or by misplaced generosity cause more harm than good.
The Al-Maktoum Foundation in Dubai asked Dr Noh al-Qado, Director of the Islamic Cultural Centre of Dublin, to investigate the situation facing the universities in Iraq, and he has now returned with a full report and a list of requests from all the departments and faculties at the University of Baghdad. This is currently being prepared for acquisition and distribution to Baghdad. We aim to keep you updated on the progress of the books to Iraq on this site as well as through regular media.
