AGA KHAN LIBRARY

M25 Consortium of Academic Libraries visit the Aga Khan Library

M25 Consortium of Academic Libraries visit
the Aga Khan Library

The Aga Khan Library hosted members of the M25 Consortium of Academic Libraries on the 2nd of November.

Eighteen librarians from leading academic libraries around London, including University College London, King’s College, Queen Mary University of London, Senate House and School of Advanced Studies, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and the National Gallery joined the Aga Khan Library team to explore the Aga Khan Centre and the Aga Khan Library, see the current exhibitions, and learn about the invaluable resources available to researchers.
Gallery curator speaking with guests
Gallery Curator, Esen Kaya, introducing the Quran exhibition to the M25 Consortium members.

Dr. Walid Ghali, Head of the Aga Khan Library, extended a warm welcome to the M25 guests, followed by a comprehensive Aga Khan Centre tour and a visit to the exhibition The Quran: Form, Fragrance & Feeling by the Aga Khan Centre Gallery curator, Esen Kaya. The M25 guests then had the opportunity to meet with colleagues from the Ismaili Special Collections Unit, who showcased their projects and some highlights from their heritage collections. The Aga Khan Library team followed this presentation with an exploration of the history of the Institute of Ismaili Studies and the Aga Khan University’s Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations libraries, the development of the Aga Khan Library idea and the relevance of its core collections for researchers in different fields of Islamic Studies.

Guests viewing the Quran exhibition. Introduced by the curator.
Quran exhibition curator offering insights to the exquisite display items.
The visit to the Aga Khan Library concluded with a networking session where the librarians shared knowledge and best practices over refreshments provided by the hospitable Aga Khan Centre events team. Visitors expressed their gratitude and admiration, highlighting the memorable visit to the Aga Khan Centre and the excellent Aga Khan Library spaces, valuable collections and inspiring exhibitions.
ISCU at the IIS presenting their projects.
Rizwan Karim from the ISCU presenting his oral history project to the M25 members.

The Aga Khan Library team is humbled by the gratefulness and appreciation showed by the M25 guests.

 
“I just wanted to say, “thank you” to you and all your colleagues for the fantastic visit yesterday.”
“The planning and diligence that you and your colleagues had put in as preparation for the visit were obvious and, I am sure, was appreciated by all attendees.”
“You have a wonderful building; the library space and the exhibition were excellent.”