AlKhalidi Library's History and Collections

The lecture will highlight the rich interplay between time, people and the place of AlKhalidi Library in Jerusalem’s cultural heritage history. It will introduce AlKhalidi family’s history in Jerusalem since the Islamic conquest and touch on some important personalities who contributed to the collection over centuries.

It will also examine the architectural and historical significance of the Library’s location at Bab al-Silsilah. For the past 125 years, this site has functioned as a private manuscript library dedicated to public use, while remaining part of the family’s dhirri waqf holdings in the Holy City.

The lecture will present some of the rarest and most unique items in the collection and will outline recent renewal projects supported by various donors. These initiatives have aimed to bring the Library into the 21st century through building renovations, manuscript digitization and conservation, new public exhibitions, enhanced research services, and expanded community outreach.

Language: Arabic

What will you learn?
Participants will learn about the historical significance of AlKhalidi Library, discover its rare manuscripts, and learn about ongoing efforts to modernize and preserve its collection for future generations.

Who is it for?
This is for historians, researchers, scholars, manuscript preservation experts, and anyone interested in the cultural heritage of Jerusalem and the intersection of history, architecture, and modern conservation efforts.