A new Bahrain-funded library built in Jerusalem has officially opened.

The Al Quds University Public Library will serve thousands of people and will be electronically linked to Bahrain’s National Library in a bid to give Palestinian schoolchildren easier access to reading material, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

Built with an Islamic theme, the three-storey facility located in Al Quds University is considered the first library established in Jerusalem since 1967.

It is being funded by His Majesty King Hamad after a co-operation agreement was signed between the Royal Charity Organisation (RCO) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on August 20, 2013.

The organisation’s secretary-general Dr Mustafa Al Sayed opened the library under the patronage of  Representative of His Majesty King Hamad for Charity Works and Youth Affairs and RCO chairman Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

“The RCO is working towards enhancing the Arabic identity in Jerusalem by linking it to the National Library that aims to spread awareness, culture and knowledge,” said Shaikh Nasser in a statement.

“Bahrain will keep supporting its Palestinian neighbours on many levels with directives from His Majesty King Hamad and by working on various development projects that contribute to building the Palestinian citizen and bring both the people of Bahrain and Palestine closer.”

Meanwhile, Dr Al Sayed said books, manuscripts and research papers will be supplied to the library, which is equipped with the latest technology and computers.

“The library is a meeting point and a knowledge spot that will include books, manuscripts and researches,” he said in a statement.

“It is mainly for school and college students and will also be supplied with books about Jerusalem discussing many topics about the occupied land of Palestine.

“There will also be books in literature, poetry, Islamic and Arabian history, and science, among other books that can be a resource for students and researchers.”

The library, which also features a conference room, has provided many job opportunities to people in Jerusalem, added the 
statement. - TradeArabia News Service