9:30 - 10:30 AM

Welcome Speech 

His Excellency Dr. Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al-Kawari,
State Minister and President of Qatar National Library 

Qatari GLAMs and their Role in Activating and Enhancing Soft Power (Pre-recorded video)

Her Excellency Sheikha Alya bint Ahmed Al Thani,
Ambassador of Qatar to the United Nations

The Diplomatic Role of GLAMs: Employing Culture to Strengthen Local, Regional and International Relations

Professor Hassan Awad Al Sereihy, 
King Abdulaziz University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Guinness World Records as a Tool for Cultural Diplomacy 

Susan Parker Leavy and Boluwatife Agbelusi,
Museum of Islamic Art

QNL's Cultural Diplomacy Efforts (video)

Opening of the poster presentations  

Poster presentations:

• Royal Opera House Muscat: The Premier Gateway to Omani Culture and Originality, Abdulla Salim Alhanaei and Faten Hamad, Sultan Qaboos University, Oman
• The World is at our Fingertips, Al-Anoud Abdullah Al-Kaabi and Hussein Jassim Al-Haddad, Al-Noor Center for the Blind
• Guinness World Records as a Tool for Cultural Diplomacy, Eihab Saeed A. Mohammad, Adrian De Chavez Bolotano and Afnas Vettu Poyil, Museum of Islamic Art
• Open Licensing in GLAMs: A Road Map for Cultural Diplomacy, Dr. Alwaleed Alkhaja, Qatar National Library
• Between Huntington and Joseph Nye: The Dynamics of Culture as a Soft Power in Diplomacy, Dialogue, and Avoiding the Clash of Civilizations, Aisha Ahmad Mahamdia, Journalist and Academic Researcher
• The Bibliotheca Alexandrina’s Embassies of Knowledge Program and its Impact on the Dissemination of Culture and Knowledge, and Scientific and Cultural Exchange between Societies, Dr. Rania Abdel Rahman Amry Abed Rabbo, Faculty of Arts, Menoufia University, Egypt
• Enhancing Cooperation between the Learning Resource Center and Local Community Institutions to Spread a Culture of Reading, Sayeda Musaad Hussain Saleh Al Ajji, Rawda Bint Jassim Secondary School for Girls
• Promoting a Reading Culture: Book Clubs for Busy People, Tatiana Usova, Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar

8:30 - 9:00 AM

Welcome Speech 

Stephane Ipert,
Director of Distinctive Collections, Qatar National Library

Restitution of Cultural Heritage: QNL's Himaya Project (video)

Universities' Role in Promoting Cultural Diplomacy: Sultan Qaboos University's Cultural Activities as a Model 

Dr. Nabhan Al Harrasi
Arab Federation for Libraries and Information

Panel discussion

Topic: Harnessing Culture to Strengthen Local, Regional and International Relations 

Moderator: Dr. Yehia Abdelmobdy Mohamed, Georgetown University in Qatar 

Panelists:      

• Claire McGuire, International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions  
• Dr. Nabhan Al Harrasi, Arab Federation for Libraries and Information
• Randolf Mariano, University of Tromsø, The Arctic University of Norway
• Stephane Ipert, Qatar National Library

Opening of the Lightning Talks

Lightning Talk Presentations:

• National Libraries as Political Catalysts, Eiman Al Shamari, Qatar National Library; University of Sheffield 
• Introducing Library Users to the History and Heritage of Qatar, Sheikha Maryam Al Thani, Qatar University Library 
• GLAMs: A Diplomatic Tool in Confronting Extremism, Ignorance, and Difficulties with other Nations, Sara Alsafadi, Qatar University
• Brave Afghan Refugees Sharing their Stories with the MIA Library, Tasneem Dari, Museum of Islamic Art
• Mechanisms for Repatriating Historical Cultural Heritage Properties: The Case of Zaydani Library, Zakarya Alhakkar, Lusail University 
• The Diplomatic Role of the Palestinian National Library, Issa Ahmed Abdel Hamid Qaraqe, Head of the Palestinian National Library

Followed by Q&A

Appreciation Session and Closing Remarks

Huism Tan,
Executive Director of Qatar National Library