On Tuesday, November 8^th, 2016, Dr. Bakri bin Maatouq Assas, president of Umm Al-Qura University (UQU), launched the first phase of the “Iqraa” (Read) database project at the King Abdul-Aziz university library. Present were Dr. A’adnan Alharisi, the Libraries’ Affairs dean, the Deanship vice deans and number of its staff. The attendance watched a visual presentation for the “Read” database including information and statistical data, as well as the future vision for the project.

Still, Dr. Adnan Al-Harthi delivered a speech underlining that the “Iqraa" database project includes three phases of which the first one has been completed.  When such a project finishes, it will constitute a huge digital database, bringing remarkable investment to the AUQ. He pointed out that the first phase involved a group of sources estimated at more than 30 books and 10 releases of the AUQ printed materials, as well as 24 scientific works. Also, the project includes unpublished manuscripts and the books the AQU printed and produced, in addition to seminars and others.   

Similarly, Dr. Al-Harthi pointed out that the Libraries’ Affairs Deanship seeks to automate the Deanhsip’s intra-department and the King Abdul-Aziz university library and all its 36 branches, located in colleges, institutes and the AUQ deanships. This aims at performing its services in an electronic frame. 

Within the same vein, having launched the project, Dr. Asass, the UQU President, gave a speech stressing the importance of the “Iqraa” database project as a pivot in the knowledge sciences. He also hailed the project as a leading step which in the future will become among the AQU’s strengths. He went on to add that the Libraries’ Affairs Deanship works according to an outlined vision, and efforts translated into success and distinction on real ground.

After that, Dr. Bakri and the attendance headed to the library of the Manuscripts and Islamic Heritage Revival Institute, and listened to a detailed explanation by Dr. Adnan Al-Harthi about the ambitious plan of restructuring the AQU Manuscripts and Islamic Heritage Revival Institute.

On behalf of the University President, Dr. Halah Al-Amoudi, the University Studies (female) dean, honored Dr. Mariam Almahmadi, the Libraries’ Affairs vice dean, for her remarkable efforts. And via the close-circuit TV, Dr. Bakri congratulated Dr. Mariam Almahmadi on the efforts she exerted in service of the UQU, wishing her success in all the tasks she is assigned.