The COVID-19 pandemic has unfortunately resulted in the closure of schools and universities around the world. Campuses, classrooms and libraries remain empty as part of measures to ensure the health and well-being of everyone. 

In Qatar, studying and research have not shut down altogether. Thanks to a vast range of sophisticated online resources that support learners of all ages – from nurseries to schools and higher education institutions – Qatar National Library is able to play its part in assisting students at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), as well as in other universities and schools across Qatar, to continue their research and studies without interruption.

All classes inside the HBKU campus were suspended in March until further notice, and transition to online learning was made. With the needs of students of paramount importance and HBKU determined to ensure academic progress under these unprecedented circumstances, having access to a major selection of online resources is a genuine advantage.

HBKU students registered as members can access the Library’s online resources in various formats, including e-books, academic papers, audiobooks, newspaper articles, magazines, streaming music and videos. Registration is easy and fast, and can be done online.

Counseling on COVID-19 Available for Members of HBKU CommunityStudents have access to more than 190 databases, beyond 600,000 e-books, 16,000 journals, and over 465,000 reports, theses, dissertations, among others. A raft of subjects, including arts and humanities, education, health sciences, law and political science, religion and philosophy, social science and history, are available via the Library’s online databases.

The Library is harnessing the power of technology to ensure that students are connected to a librarian at all times. Students in need of assistance to find the right academic articles, e-books, create a bibliography or schedule a research consultation with a subject area librarian, can send their questions via the Library’s Ask Our Librarians online service.

According to Dr Emad El-Din Shahin, Interim Provost at HBKU, the pandemic is something that hardly anyone could have been prepared for. Yet, it has also shown the uniqueness and strength of the Education City environment at Qatar Foundation.

He said that HBKU’s closeness to the Library in upholding educational continuity, academic excellence and innovation, is a logical and direct reflection of shared mandates to foster knowledge, build capacity and bring the community together.

I encourage everyone at HBKU to make optimal use of the Library’s online resources, that indeed are second to none in the region.

Patrice Landry, Chief Librarian and Deputy Executive Director at the Library, said that their digital resources can fill a massive gap left by the sudden closure of educational institutions. She said that they are glad to help students find ways to ensure the continuity of their learning experiences.

We welcome students from HBKU and other universities, as well as schools across Qatar, who will find a supportive team of expert librarians ready to support remotely during this extraordinary period. Our online resources cover a whole range of subjects, and researchers, students, faculty and staff can source academic papers, e-books, or journals, which can make that vital difference when it comes to completing their work remotely.

The Library’s digital resources also include a Consumer Health Database, particularly tailored to students in Health Sciences. It includes journals and magazines covering a wide range of health subjects including sports injuries, women’s health, nutrition, midwifery, dentistry, and eye care. There is also a religion database, covering formal theological studies and commentary on topics of general interest from the perspectives of most religious confessions.

Another useful resource available is the ProQuest Science Database, a definitive resource for researchers studying applied and general sciences. It contains features dating back to the 1980s with more than 1,200 documents available in full text.

The latest issues of globally leading magazines, such as The New Yorker, Newsweek, the Economist, and Wired, are also free to access.

To access the Library’s online resources, visit qnl.qa

School Is Out, Virtual Learning Is In!