This eighteen month project aims to expand access to the largest private collection of Arabic Manuscripts in Jerusalem.
The Khalidi Library
The Khalidi library forms part of the Khalidi family Waqf endowment, comprising 50 residential and commercial properties in the Old City of Jerusalem. Since 2013 , the Library Administrators have initiated a wide-raging programme of restoration and digitization of the collection and renovations of the 13th century Mameluke premises housing it.
Preserving and Protecting the collection
This project will build on the work to date and will see the expansion of three part time functions at the library to increase capacity amongst the staff. The grant will fund a number of core activities including the installation of Library Management and Catalogue Software for some 300,000 digital Manuscript images; the installation of surveillance, alarm systems and fire safety equipment to prevent against wilful damage or fire; and the conservation of at least 50 of the most valuable and vulnerable manuscripts.
In addition to this, research will be undertaken together with the Kenyon institute into the history of the library and the Khalidi family and its collection. This will enable the library to improve the way the collection is framed, increasing accessibility and encouraging public and specialist engagement.
