PRIVATE home libraries containing rare and valuable books could receive financial support in a bid to help protect them for future generations and ensure they do not get lost, ruined or forgotten over time, if councillors have their way.
The Southern Municipal Council unanimously approved a proposal by its chairman Bader Al Tamimi yesterday urging the government to launch a scheme to provide monthly or annual ‘preservation provisions’ for owners.
Under the proposal, a special committee from the Education Ministry, Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (Baca) and the Isa Cultural Centre would be formed to consider applications and select libraries to benefit from the scheme.
“Unfortunately many rare books end up being dumped, destroyed or sold for peanuts by their inheritors once the original owners pass away,” said Mr Al Tamimi.
“We are speaking about books that are around 100 years old, such as those by top Bahraini writer Ibrahim Al Arrayedh for example, and they are a witness to a century’s history.
“These books are first print, limited editions and only a few copies exist. They are literary treasures not only for Bahrain, or the region, but the whole world.”
Mr Al Tamimi said Bahrain’s companies could also step in and help provide additional financial support for home libraries to ensure the books remain safeguarded.
“There are multiple ways in which support could be provided and that’s either with monthly monetary awards to cover 40 home libraries – 10 each, based in the country’s four governorates,” he suggested, with funds of between BD500 and BD600 a year awarded.
“The financial support need not necessarily all come from the government – it could be major companies like Alba, Batelco, Bapco or Gulf Air supporting the drive since many of these books are of historical interest to them and feature their journeys.”
He added that the move could also help create a digital database and allow private library owners to produce a list of the treasures on show.
“There are many books that are currently unavailable in the market, or in public libraries, and having a database could easily help locate their whereabouts,” added Mr Al Tamimi.
Meanwhile, Shura Council member and Isa Cultural Centre national library director Dr Mansoor Sarhan, said the proposed move by municipal councillors would help protect rare books for future generations.
“The books are alive when their owners are alive and when inheritors get such wealth most of the time they don’t appreciate them or are simply unaware of their value to the country. As a result they get thrown in the garbage, sold off cheaply or fall into disrepair,” he said.
“I believe there are rare books in the community where there is only one copy in good order. Once those private home libraries close they could be lost forever.
“When the government supports home libraries with financial support it will encourage an automatic protection of rare books.”
Dr Sarhan has his own unique 3,000 collection too of rare books which include the works of Bahraini authors Qassim Haddad, Alawi Al Hashimi as well as Al Arrayedh, amongst others.
“Hearing about the interest from councillors, I think that there is a platform we could build on for the future of home library museums that may attract, draw in and fascinate people from across the world,” he said. “They could be a national resource in more ways than one.”
The proposal has been referred to Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Minister Essam Khalaf to forward to the concerned authorities.
mohammed@gdn.com.bh
&uuid=(email))