In their remote presentation, Stephane Ipert and Wassilena Sekulova will introduce Qatar National Library (QNL) with a focus on the Special Collection and its various objects and thematic ranges. Another topic will be the work of Restauration and Conservation Lab which is responsible not only for the materials housed in the QNL but is also by appointment of IFLA (International Federation of Library Associations) a PAC (Preservation and Conservation Center) for the Middle East and the Arab World. Finally, our guest speakers will present current international projects and look forward to discuss possible cooperation fields with Freie Universität Berlin.

Stephane Ipert is the Director of Distinctive Collections at Qatar National Library since 2017. His diverse academic and professional background (conservation, art history and law) brought him to work in different institutions for documentary heritage preservation and valorization, among others the Aga Khan Museum in Geneva (2008-2015). Prior to his appointment in QNL he has managed various EU funded projects for books and manuscripts protection/preservation in Arab countries.

Wassilena Sekulova is the Head of Manuscripts and Archives in the Department of Distinctive Collections at Qatar National Library. Her previous work stations include the Oriental collections at Humboldt University and the Museum of Islamic Art in Berlin, Germany, the Bodleian Library at Oxford University in England, and Bibliotheca Alexandrina in Egypt. Ms Sekulova holds a Master’s degree in Arabic Studies and Egyptology from the Freie Universität Berlin and has studied Library and Information Sciences (MLIS) at the University of Applied Sciences in Cologne, Germany.

The AnonymClassic research colloquium will become ‘hybrid’ in the winter term of 2021/2022. Sessions are both in held in person and remotely accessible for students and guests; presentations by guests may be recorded.

Team, students and guests meet virtually every Thursday from 12:15 to 1:45 pm (CET).

The winter term promotes a number of international guest speakers in alternation with close reading sessions on manuscript editing and presentations of the team’s research topics. Discussion of methodological approaches and digital humanities issues remain key interests of the AnonymClassic research colloquium.

Colleagues, visiting scholars, and students (Arabic studies or related disciplines) are cordially invited to participate. We especially welcome researchers based elsewhere than Freie Universität Berlin to join us for any one (or more) sessions. Please just send a quick note anonymclassic@geschkult.fu-berlin.de for registration and to get the relevant information such as the link to our Cisco WebEx meeting.

About options of students’ credits and registration in blackboard, please see here and contact the relevant academic advisor of your study program. 

N.B: Presentations may be recorded, please notify our technical host ahead of sessions in case you object to your image and/or contributions to be archived.