Middle East Librarianship
Course Syllabus:
Course Title: Middle East Librarianship
Course Description: This course is designed to introduce library science students to the growing field of
Middle East Librarianship. It will examine major developments and various aspects of the field. Major
topics will include: 1) the history of Middle East collections in North America, 2) collection development,
and acquisition concepts as they relate to Middle East publications, 3) selection of Middle East research
resources for digitization, 4) provision of reference services, 5) Romanization tables (and cataloging), 6)
professional associations with particular focus on Middle East librarianship, and 7) other related topics.
Assignments will include course readings, written papers, discussion topics posted on the discussion link
in Moodle, Web sites to review and evaluate, as well as a final paper. All assignments will be posted on
Moodle using the assignment link.
Course Date: Spring 2015
Course Number: To be assigned
Credits: 3 credits.
Frequency: Course will be offered as needed.
Instructor: Shayee Khanaka, Librarian for Near/Middle East Collections and Linguistics
E-mail address: skhanaka@library.berkeley.edu
Mailing address: University of California Berkeley Library 94720
Library/Unit: Research and Collections, 438 Doe Library
Telephone: (510) 642-6657
Prerequisites: Introduction to cataloging.
Course Requirements:
- Completion of weekly readings.
- Completion of all assignments.
- Regular active participation on the Blackboard discussion board, including written responses.
- Regular attendance and participation; in general some meetings will be devoted to a discussion focused on
the primary source reading.
- Participation in MELA mentoring program report.
- 5-6 page term paper (topics must be approved by the instructor), due at the end of the semester.
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Required readings and course material:
Dale, Penny., Holland, Matt., & Mathews, Marian. (2006). Area Studies Librarianship a general overview:
Subject Librarians: Engaging with the Learning and Teaching Environment. England, Aldershot;
Burlington, VT.: Ashgate Publishing Group.
Hazen, Dan., & Spohrer, James Henry. (eds.). (2007). Building area studies collections. Wiesbaden: Otto
Harrassowitz GmbH & Co. (Introduction (pp. 1-5); David Hirsch’s “From parchment to pixels: Middle
Eastern collection development in academic libraries” (pp. 81-107)
Partington, David H. (1980). Middle Eastern library collections in the United States: the influence of
library organization and the area studies center. In Middle East studies and libraries: a felicitation
volume for Prof. J. D. Pearson, edited by B.C. Bloomfield. 1980, p. 153-162.
Ralph, D. Wagner. (2002). A history of the Farmington plan. Lanham, MD: The Scarecrow Press.
Reed-Scott, Jutta. & Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. (1996). Scholarship research libraries and global
publishing: the result of a study funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Washington, DC:
Association of Research Libraries.
Stephan, Roman. (1990). The development of Islamic library collections in Western Europe and North
America, Libraries and Librarianship in the Muslim world. London: Mansell.
Williamson, William (ed.). (May, 1967). The impact of the public law 480 program on overseas
acquisitions by American libraries; proceedings of a conference. Madison, WI: Library School, University
of Wisconsin. (p. 2-13).
Sharman, R. N. (2006). The impact of technology on Asian, African, and Middle Eastern library
collections. Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press.
Recommended Readings:
MELA Notes: http://mela.us/MELANotes/MELA-Notes.html
Aman, M. (1992). DONES: Journal Digest of Middle East Studies,
Domes: Digest of ME studies. (1992-). School of Library and Information Science, University of
Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
International Journal of Middle East Studies. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayJournal?jid=mes
Many readings are available in the course packet. You can order it at: Or on reserve? The remaining
readings are available on-line. Go to the course webpage and click on the links:
Class schedule: This course meets entirely online through the Learning Management System, powered
by WebCT/Blackboard. There is no on-campus residency period. You are expected to log in and review
each week’s topic and complete all the readings and assignments. Each week’s class session stays open
from Monday through Sunday. Each assignment has a due date. Late assignments will be marked down.
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Course specific learning Outcomes: Students who complete the course will be able to:
1. Summarize the key past and current issues of Middle East Librarianship in North America.
2. Recognize and use the terminology and vocabulary associated with the field.
3. Identify research libraries with Middle East collections in North America
4. Prepare a collection development policy and selection guidelines for all forms of material as
they relate to Middle East collections
5. Compare reference and seminal resources; digitization programs in ME librarianship; and ME
collection cooperative programs and strategies.
6. Critically evaluate ME resources;
7. Guide students and faculty in the location, retrieval, evaluation, and application of information
available in ME collections in North America.
8. Work with faculty and students to analyze information needs and develop solutions.
9. Explain and apply the purpose and function of Arabic and Persian Romanization tables.
10. Acquire the fundamentals of information organization of ME publications.
ASSIGNMENTS: All assignments are due by the listed due dates. Late assignments will be graded
down. Make sure your name, date, course number, and the assignment name are on each
assignment. I recommend you compose your assignments using a word processing program, save the
file, and then attach your file to the assignment link in Blackboard. Know when all assignments are due.
Citation page required for all references used. APA should be used for all works cited.
Class participation includes responding to topics posed on the discussion board.
Grading: Grading is based on assignments; class discussion using the online discussion board; and a term
paper. All assignments are graded on a scale of 1 to 100.
Letter grades will be assigned using the following scale:
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD
F
96-100
90-95
87-89
83-86
80-82
77-79
73-76
70-72
61 – 69
< 60
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Week 1:
Topic: Introduction to the course and its objectives and Middle East Map Project:
This week’s objective:
Log in to Blackboard and read the syllabus. Become familiar with the following Blackboard links:
Announcement page; Course policies; Assignments; Discussion Board; and the Grade book. Also, on the
discussion board write a short autobiography. Include where you work [or go to school] and your goals
for this course. Add any additional information you wish. Pictures are always welcomed.
Review all assignments and their requirements, noting their due dates. Planning ahead is critical for
some assignments.
Assignment 1: Middle East Outline Map
Go to the following link: http://er.jsc.nasa.gov/seh/Mission_Geography/Map_Index.pdf
Print out a copy of the Middle East outline map: Using the map, provide the following information:
Name each Middle East country, and lightly outline (use different colors for adjoining countries); locate
and identify the capital of each country and 4 major cities; trace in and identify the major rivers; lightly
color geographic areas with specific ethnic minorities such as Kurds, Berbers and other ethnic groups.
How many countries are classified as Middle East countries? What is the official language/s of each
country? What is the population of each country? Scan your finished work and attach it to Assignment
1 in Blackboard. Due date: mm/dd/yy
Week 2:
Topic: The History of Middle East Libraries in North America: an overview; Farmington plan 1948 and
PL 80:
Required Readings:
Wagner, Ralph D. (2002). A history of the Farmington plan. Lanham: Maryland: The Scarecrow Press.
Prologue (p.1-6); The Farmington meeting October 9, 1942 (p. 77-96); Dress rehearsal: the Library of
Congress mission and cooperation Acquisition Project (p. 97-108); The strategic planning process (p.
109-126); The plan in action: subject responsibilities, 1948-1951 (p. 159-202).
Middle Eastern Librarianship: The State of the Art. Christine Dykgraaf, MELA Notes. (Number 75-76, Fall
2002-Spring 2003) Written by one of the Atiyeh prize winners, discussing the current state of the field.
Week 3:
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Topic: Continuation of the History of Middle East Libraries in North America:
This week you are to continue with the required readings.
Required Readings:
Wagner, Ralph D. (2002). A History of the Farmington Plan. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow, 2002.
Expanding the strategic plan: country responsibility, 1950-1960 (p.203-222); Subject responsibility,
1951-1959: strategic planning (p.223-252); New cooperative programs (p. 359-382).
Week 4:
Topic: The landscape of Area studies and ME librarianship in North America:
Required Readings:
Reed-Scott, J. (1996). Scholarship research libraries and global publishing. Washington, DC: Association
of Research Libraries. Collecting patterns of North American ME research libraries (chapter. 6 p. 51-62)
Survey of Area studies/ME Collections (chapter. 7 p. 63-119)
Kurzman, Charles. (n.d.). Islamic studies in U.S. universities. Retrieved from
http://www.unc.edu/~cernst/pdf/romes.pdf
Merks, G. (n.d.). International studies in the U.S..: an overview. Retrieved from
http://www.crl.edu/sites/default/files/attachments/events/Duke%20Conference%20Merkx%20paper.p
df
Recommended Readings:
Anderson, Elizabeth. A. (2006). An evaluation of Title VI funded Middle East study centers. Retrieved
from http://www.ssrc.org/workspace/images/crm/new_publication_3/%7Bc0096ec1-f260-de11-bd80001cc477ec70%7D.pdf
Kurzman, Charles. (November, 2012). American scholarship and the global turn. Retrieved from
http://www.crl.edu/sites/default/files/attachments/events/Global%20Forum%20Kurzman%20paper.pdf
Miller-Idriss, Cynthia and Elizabeth A. Anderson. (n.d.). Thinking Nationally about International
Knowledge: Area Studies in the United States. Retrieved from
http://www.ssrc.org/workspace/images/crm/new_publication_3/%7B85415c84-2e5c-de11-bd80001cc477ec70%7D.pdf
Nyang, Sulayman S. (n.d.). The state of Islamic studies in American universities Retrieved from
http://iiit.org/iiitftp/PDF%27s/Islamic-Studies.pdf
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Shami, Seteney. (2007). The impact of 9/11 on area studies. Social Science Research Council. Retrieved
from http://www.ssrc.org/workspace/images/crm/new_publication_3/%7B18f8c16e-305c-de11-bd80001cc477ec70%7D.pdf
Stevens, M. L. (March, 2009). Academic internationalism: U.S. universities in transition. Retrieved from
http://www.ssrc.org/workspace/images/crm/new_publication_3/{c22d385c-d25a-de11-bd80001cc477ec70}.pdf
Smith, Neil. (n.d.). Abysmal ignorance: the pre-life of area studies, 1917-1958. Ch. 2. The Politics of
Space: Jigsaw geographies after area studies. Retrieved from
http://www.ssrc.org/workspace/images/crm/new_publication_3/%7Bc1f55a7a-ec60-de11-bd80001cc477ec70%7D.pdf
Assignment 2: Review the history of Middle East collections in North America.
From your readings write a 4 page paper. Review the history of Middle East library collections in North
America. What was the state of development of Middle East Libraries during the early stages? What
have been the difficulties in collection development, acquisition, cataloging, subject and name
authority? What has been the role of the Library of Congress? Be prepared to review your findings with
the class using the discussion board in Blackboard. Pay particular attention to recent publications. A
citation page is required. Make note in your paper publications you found most valuable. Due:
mm/dd/yy
Week 5:
Topic: North American research libraries in an international/ (global) context: Shifts and economics of
information needs and growth in international publishing in ME librarianship:
Required Readings:
Jakubs, Deborah. (April, 2013). The global dimensions of scholarship and research libraries finding
synergies, creating convergence. Retrieved from
http://www.crl.edu/sites/default/files/attachments/events/Global%20Forum%20Recommendations.
pdf
Jakubs, Deborah. (n.d.). Library collections and access: Supporting global expertise. Retrieved from
http://www.crl.edu/sites/default/files/attachments/pages/jakubs_magier.pdf
Kurzman, C. (November, 2012). Middle East collections and international scholarship at American
universities. Retrieved from http://mela.us/past_meetings/Kurzman_MELA_November_2012.pdf
Recommended Readings:
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Nye, James. (n.d.). Non-governmental sources of support for global resources support of enhanced global
resources. Retrieved from
http://www.crl.edu/sites/default/files/attachments/events/Duke%20Conference%20Nye%20paper.pdf
Nye, James. (n.d.). International collaborations in support of enhanced global resources. Retrieved from
http://www.crl.edu/sites/default/files/attachments/events/Duke%20Conference%20Nye%20paper%20
2.pdf
Bier, Laura. (n.d.). Dissertations in Middle East studies from 2000-2007: Topical and methodological
trends. Retrieved from http://www.ssrc.org/workspace/images/crm/new_publication_3/%7B58b5be8a2c5c-de11-bd80-001cc477ec70%7D.pdf
Reed-Scott, Jutta. Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. (1996). Scholarship research libraries and global
publishing: the result of a study funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Washington, DC:
Association of Research Libraries. (Intro. and Chapter 1, 2, 3, and 4) Note map and chart on p. 56-57.
Reilly, Bernard. F. (n.d.). The evolving “supply chain” for foreign acquisitions. Retrieved rom
http://www.crl.edu/sites/default/files/attachments/events/Supply%20Chain%20draft.pdf
The global dimensions of scholarship and research libraries: A forum on the future. Retrieved from
http://www.crl.edu/sites/default/files/attachments/events/Global%20Forum%20Recommendations.pdf
Worden, Robert. (February, 2006). Gathering multidisciplinary information for the policy-making
community. Library of Congress. Retrieved from http://www.loc.gov/rr/frd/pdffiles/info_for_policymakers.pdf
Assignment 3: Web page review:
Identify 3 University Libraries or consortiums that specialize in Middle East resources. Answer the
following questions: What can the URL tell you? What kinds of information, special or unique resources,
and special services are provided at each site? Who is the intended audience? Is the site easy to
navigate? Do a search at each site, what did you find? What language/s are used at the Web site? Are
there any special collections of interest at each site? How easy is it to search? Is there a help screen? Is
the page dated? What did you like and not like about each site? Do they use social networking links, i.e.
Facebook, Blogs, etc…? Relate your Web search experience. Use a narrative and include as much detail
as you can. Do not talk in generalities, i.e. "it was an interesting Web page." Include the web address
for each site you visit. The length of this project should be a minimum of 3 pages (one page per site). To
create a good review, write more than you can use and then edit your review down. Be clear and to the
point. You are trying to convince someone why they will find this Web site of value ---or not. Due date:
mm/dd/yy
Week 6:
Topic: Collection development and acquisition models in ME librarianship:
Required readings:
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Hazen, Dan. (2007). Building area studies collections. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz Verlag: Memminger
MedienCentrum AG. Introduction (pp. 1-5).
Hirsh, D. (2007). From parchment to pixel: Middle Eastern collections development in academic libraries.
In Dan Hazen (ed.), Building area studies collections (pp. 81-107). Harrassowitz Verlag: Memminger
MedienCentrum AG.
Reilly, Bernard F.)n.d.). The Evolving “Supply Chain” for Foreign Acquisitions. Retrieved from
http://www.crl.edu/sites/default/files/attachments/events/Supply%20Chain%20draft.pdf
About MECAP. Middle East Cooperative Acquisitions Program (MECAP). (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.lc-cairo.org/cairo/coop_cai.html
Middle East microfilm project (MEMP)/. (2004, Spring). FOCUS on global resources, 23(3), Retrieved
from http://www.crl.edu/focus/article/5843
Wagner, Ralph D. (2002). A history of the Farmington plan. Lanham, MD: The Scarecrow Press. (Dress
rehearsal: the Library of congress mission and cooperation Acquisition Project (p. 97-108)); New
cooperative programs (p. 359-382)
Recommended Readings:
The Middle East Microform Project (MEMP); the Southeast Asian Microform Project (SEAM); the South
Asia Microform Project (SAMP). CRL also hosts the Area Studies Council, whose members are the chairs
of each area project.
Williamson, W. (May, 1967). The impact of the public law 480 program on overseas acquisitions by
American libraries; proceedings of a conference. Madison, WI: Library School, University of Wisconsin.
Library of Congress: Overseas Offices. Retrieved from http://www.loc.gov/acq/ovop/
Major vendors/jobbers
Sulaiman’s bookshop. Retrieved from http://www.sulaimansbookshop.com/
Leila Books. Retrieved from http://www.leilabooks.com/
ISIS Istanbul. Retrieved from http://www.theisispress.org/
Iranbooks. Retrieved from http://www.iranbooks.net/
Library of Congress: Overseas Offices. Retrieved from http://www.loc.gov/acq/ovop/
Producers of information materials:
ME book/publications industry trends
Types of publishers of ME materials: Periodicals and newspaper publishers, trade publishers,
Government presses, Scholarly publishers, private presses, Textbook publishers, Subject specialty
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Week 7:
Topic: A survey of collection development policies, a look at specific examples:
Required Readings:
Cornell University Library (2003). Collection development policies statement: Middle East and Islamic
studies. Retrieved from http://www.library.cornell.edu/colldev/mideast/cd.htm
British Library. Collection Development Policy for Asia, the Middle East and Islamic North Africa.
Retrieved from http://www.bl.uk/reshelp/bldept/apac/asiamena/cdpforameina.html
Indiana University Bloomington Library. Collection development policies – Middle Eastern and Islamic
Studies. Retrieved from http://www.libraries.iub.edu/index.php?pageId=2633
Yale University Library. Near East Collection: collection description. Retrieved from.
http://www.library.yale.edu/neareast/description.html
McGill University. Collection development policy, Islamic Studies Library. Retrieved from
https://www.mcgill.ca/library/about/collections/collection-policies/islamic
New York University: Near and Middle Eastern Studies Collection Development Policy. Retrieved from
http://library.nyu.edu/collections/policies/neareast.html
UPenn. Collection development policies, Middle Eastern studies. Retrieved from
http://www.library.upenn.edu/collections/policies/mest.html
Recommended Readings:
Brandeis University (August, 2008). Collection development policy statement: Near Eastern and Judaic
studies. Retrieved from http://lts.brandeis.edu/about/policies/collection/nejs.html
Catholic University of America: Middle East and Jewish Studies Librarianship. Retrieved from
http://guides.lib.cua.edu/content.php?pid=118384&sid=1020454
University of Chicago. Collection development policy, Middle Eastern Studies. Retrieved from
http://guides.lib.uchicago.edu/content.php?pid=115216&sid=1219485
University of London. Middle East & Central Asia, School of Oriental and African Studies. Retrieved from
http://www.soas.ac.uk/library/about/collectiondevpolicy/subject-statements/middle-east-central-asia-/
Week 8:
Topic: Cooperative collection development in ME librarianship and models for collaborative
strategies:
Required Readings:
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Allen, Barbara McFadden. (n.d.). Bringing ‘beginner’s mind’ to global resource collaboration. Retrieved
from
http://www.crl.edu/sites/default/files/attachments/events/Duke%20conference%20Allen%20paper.pdf
Center for Research Libraries - MEMP. (n.d.). Center for Research Libraries - MEMP. Retrieved from
http://www.crl.edu/area-studies/memp%20
Center for Research Libraries – Topic guide Middle Eastern Studies. (n.d.). Center for Research Libraries Middle Eastern Studies. Retrieved from http://www.crl.edu/collections/topics/middle-eastern-studies
Center for Research Libraries (CRL). Cooperative Collection Development: Demand purchase programs,
Purchase proposal program, Shared purchase program. http://www.crl.edu/collections/collectionbuilding/cooperative-resource-development
Ralph D. Wagner (2002). A history of the Farmington plan. Lanham: Maryland: the scarecrow Press.
(New cooperative programs. Chapter 19 p. 359-382)
Reed-Scott, Jutta. Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. (1996). Scholarship research libraries and global
publishing: the result of a study funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Washington, DC.
Association of Research Libraries. (Chapter 8 p. 123-127)
AAU/ARL Initiatives in Foreign language and Area/ME studies. (Chapter 9 p. 131-136)
AAU/ARL Global resources Pilot Projects. (Chapter 9 p. 132-133)
Challenges of Network collections. (Chapter 9 p. 134)
Toward a global resources program and look at the future. (Chapter 9 p. 135)
Strategic plan for improving access to global information resources in North American
(Appendix. P. 143-151)
University of Chicago. The Digital South Asia Library: Electronic Access to Seminal South Asian Resources
Funded by the U.S Department of Education under Title VI, Section 606, October 1999 through
September 2002. Retrieved from http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/su/southasia/dsal2.pdf
Recommended Readings:
Digital South Asia (2009). Is a program of the University of Chicago and CRL (Center for Research
Libraries). Retrieved from http://dsal.uchicago.edu/
Jakubs, Deborah and David Magier. Library Collections and Access: Supporting Global Expertise.
http://www.crl.edu/sites/default/files/attachments/pages/jakubs_magier.pdf
Overseas Offices. (n.d.). Library of Congress. Retrieved from http://www.loc.gov/acq/ovop/
Assignment 4: Mission statements
Review the mission statement and collection development policies from 3 Research Libraries with
Middle East collections. Write a 3 page review. What are each library’s collection goals? What are the
common features of each? What kind of material is included and excluded and what content and
subject areas are covered; are online databases included in the guidelines with other resources such as
DVDs, journals, newspapers…? What languages are included?? As part of your review, create a one to
two page collection development policy for an academic Middle East research collection.
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Week 9:
Topic: Reference essentials and seminal sources in ME studies
Reference resources online:
Bearman, P., Th. Bianquis, C. E. Bosworth, E. van Donzel and W. P. Heinrichs. (ed.). Encyclopaedia of
Islam, Second Edition. Retrieved from
http://referenceworks.brillonline.com/cluster/Encyclopaedia%20of%20Islam?s.num=0 Essential to
understanding the world of Islam.
Bearman, P., Th. Bianquis, C. E. Bosworth, E. van Donzel and W. P. Heinrichs Encyclopaedia of Islam,
Second Edition Glossary and Index of Terms...
http://referenceworks.brillonline.com/cluster/Encyclopaedia%20of%20Islam?s.num=0 Presented as a
separate data set. , the Glossary is an invaluable source of information for the vocabulary of Islam.
Bearman, P., Th. Bianquis, C. E. Bosworth, E. van Donzel and W. P. Heinrichs. (ed.). Encyclopédie de
l’Islam. Retrieved from
http://referenceworks.brillonline.com/cluster/Encyclopaedia%20of%20Islam?s.num=0 The Encyclopédie
de l’Islam en Ligne is the French edition of the new (2nd) The Encyclopaedia of Islam Online. All entries
in The Encyclopaedia of Islam French Online are linked to the Encyclopaedia of Islam Online so users can
easily switch from one language to the other.
Brockelmann, Carl. (ed.). Brill online. Brockelmann’s Geschichte der arabischen Litteratur offers biobibliographic information about works written in Arabic and their authors, with an emphasis on the
classical period. Retrieved from
http://referenceworks.brillonline.com/cluster/Encyclopaedia%20of%20Islam?s.num=0
Houtsma, M. Th., T. W. Arnold, R. Basset and R. Hartmann. (ed). Encyclopaedia of Islam, First Edition
(1913-1936). Retrieved from
http://referenceworks.brillonline.com/cluster/Encyclopaedia%20of%20Islam?s.num=0 The scope is
philology, history, theology and law until early 20th century.
Joseph, Suad. (ed.). Encyclopedia of Women & Islamic Cultures. An interdisciplinary, trans-historical,
and global project embracing women and Islamic cultures in every region where there have been
significant Muslim populations.
Kate Fleet, Gudrun Krämer; Denis Matringe; John Nawas; Everett Rowson. (ed.). Encyclopaedia of Islam,
THREE. Brill Online, 2013. Retrieved from
http://referenceworks.brillonline.com/cluster/Encyclopaedia%20of%20Islam?s.num=0
Kennedy, Hugh. (ed.). Historical Atlas of Islam. Retrieved from
http://referenceworks.brillonline.com/browse/historical-atlas-of-islam
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McAuliffe, Jane Dammen. (ed.). Encyclopaedia of the Qurʾān. Georgetown University, Washington DC. An
encyclopedic dictionary of qur’ānic terms, concepts, personalities, place names, cultural history and
exegesis extended with essays on the most important themes and subjects within qur’ānic studies.
Badawi, Elsaid and Muhammead Abdel Haseem. Dictionary of Qurʾanic Usage. Available online and is
the first comprehensive, fully-researched and contextualized Arabic-English dictionary of Qur'anic usage.
Milo, Thomas. (ed.). Qurʾān Concordance. A unique finding aid which allows users to identify and
localize text fragments, or even snippets, of the Qurʾān.
Thomas, David and Alex Mallett. (ed.). Christian-Muslim relations, a bibliographical history. A general
online history of relations between the faiths. It covers the period from 600 to 1500, when encounters
took place through the extended Mediterranean basin.
Wilferd Madelung and, Farhad Daftary. (ed.). Encyclopaedia Islamica. Brill Online, 2013. Retrieved from
http://referenceworks.brillonline.com/entries/encyclopaedia-islamica Based on the abridged and
edited translation of the Persian Dāʾirat al-Maʿārif-i Buzurg-i Islāmī. A unique feature lies in the attention
given to Shiʿi Islam and its rich and diverse heritage.
Encyclopaedia Iranica Retrieved from http://www.iranicaonline.org A comprehensive research tool
dedicated to the study of Iranian civilization in the Middle East, the Caucasus, Central Asia, and the
Indian subcontinent.
Türkiye Diyanet Vakfı İslâm ansiklopedisi Retrieved from
http://www.diyanetvakfiyayin.com.tr/index.php?Option=Listele&No=15 A comprehensive research
resource dedicated to the study of Turkish.
Islâm ansiklopedisi :Islâm âlemi tarih, coğrafya, etnografya ve biyografya lûgati. (1950). Istanbul :Millî
Eğitim Basimevi.
http://www.library.yale.edu/oacis/ (OACIS). (2013, September 14). The Online Access to Consolidated
Information on Serials is a union list of serials from or about the Middle East. The mission of OACIS is to
improve access to Middle Eastern serials in libraries in the United States, Europe, and the Middle East
Access to Mideast and Islamic Resources (AMIR). (2013, September 14). Alphabetical List of Open Access
Journals in Middle Eastern Studies. http://amirmideast.blogspot.com/2010/12/alphabetical-list-of-openaccess.html
Academic Islamic Studies and Middle East Studies Web Sites. (n.d.). Academic Islamic Studies and Middle
East Studies Web Sites. Retrieved from http://islam.uga.edu/MESCenters.html
Center for Research Libraries Middle East Political Website Archiving Pilot Project, David G. Hirsch, et al.
(Number 78, 2005) List of Middle East political websites.
Simon, James. (Producer). (2011, September 02). Middle East and Islam Webinar [Web Video]. Retrieved
from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rkw14SwMYiY&lr=1&uid=CE6QMtCIBCRcr6XKpc6S9A
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Samoeil, Simon. (2007, Number 80.). The OACIS Project: Online Access to Consolidated Information on
Serials, Yale University. Outlines the Online Access to Consolidated Information on Serials (OACIS)
Project, which “facilitates the transfer of information and knowledge contained in serials pertaining to
Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies published in the Middle East, North Africa, North America, and
Western Europe, in the various Western European languages as well as in Arabic.”
Russell, John. (2006, Number 79). Open Access and Middle East Studies. Retrieved from
https://scholarsbank.uoregon.edu/xmlui/bitstream/handle/1794/10651/RussellJOpen.pdf?sequence=1
A brief discussion of open access scholarship, and a list of open access journals.
The Reference Interview. http://www.webpages.uidaho.edu/~mbolin/willenbrown.htm
Assignment 5:
Select 15 reference works that should be part of any basic Middle East reference collection. Five of your
references should be serials and five should be online databases. This number ratio can change if you
can justify your selection. Review and write the scope and content of each reference. Note to whom
the reference might be most useful. Make sure to give the complete citation for each work.
Week 10:
Topic: Library services during the Arab spring:
Required Readings:
Center for Research Libraries - Webinar: Middle East and Islamic Resources. (n.d.). CRL Events. Retrieved
from http://www.crl.edu/events/7290
Center for Research Libraries Middle Eastern and Islamic resources. FOCUS, Fall 2011, vol. 31, n1.
Retrieved from http://www.crl.edu/focus/fall-2011)
Dougherty, Roberta L. (2011). Documenting Revolution in the Middle East. FOCUS, fall 2011 Vol. 31,
Num. 1. Retrieved from http://www.crl.edu/focus/article/7437
The Guardian. (2010, January, 5). Arab spring: an interactive timeline of Middle East protest. Retrieved
from http://www.theguardian.com/world/interactive/2011/mar/22/middle-east-protest-interactivetimeline
Houissa Ali (Cornell University blog). (Middle East & Islamic Studies Collection Blog.
Brown University Library. (2013, September 3). The Arab spring 2011-present. Retrieved from
http://libguides.brown.edu/ArabSpringMedia
Chang, Kayo (2011). Library services during the Arab spring, a navigation of the ‘new normal
environment’ in Bahrain. Retrieved from
http://librudn.pbworks.com/w/file/fetch/47754344/B201_Chang.docx
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Cornell University Library Guides. (2013, August 15). Arab spring: a research & study guide. Retrieved
from http://guides.library.cornell.edu/content.php?pid=259276&sid=2163169
Recommended Readings:
Houissa, Ali. (2011). The Arab spring, impact on publishing, scholarly communication, libraries and
archives: the Tunisian revolution as example [Web blog comment]. Retrieved from
http://www.library.cornell.edu/colldev/mideast/Arabspring.pdf
Houissa Ali (Cornell University blog). Tunisian revolution 6 months later, first hand account of some
recent developments. Retrieved from http://blogs.cornell.edu/mideastlibrarian/2011/07/07/tunisianrevolution-6-months-later-a-field-report/
Ursula, Lindsey. (2011). In Egypt, history for the people, group hopes to encourage inquiry with an open
archive of the revolution. Chronicle of Higher Education, 57(39), A18-A19
Harvard Law School. (2013, August 6). Arab spring—research guide. Retrieved from
http://guides.library.harvard.edu/content.php?pid=270604&sid=2232531
Assignment 6: Arab spring
Write a 4 page summary of your readings on the Arab Spring. What do you perceive to be the main
issues for ME librarians trying to provide services and or documenting evolving events?
Week 11:
Topic: Digitization initiatives and collaborative digitization for ME resources; a survey of specific
projects and resources.
Required Readings:
Collaboration in Cataloguing: Islamic Manuscripts at Michigan, Evyn Kropf and Jonathon Rodgers
(Number 82, 2009) Retrieved from http://www.lib.umich.edu/special-collections-library/collaborationcataloging-islamic-manuscripts-michigan A description and discussion of the project undertaken to
catalogue, digitalize, provide access via website to a large Islamic manuscript collection.
Digitization of Near East Materials from a Curatorial Point of View, Simon Samoeil (Number 83, 2010)
Retrieved from http://www.library.yale.edu/ameel/MESAworkshop/mesa_2008_samoeil.pdf
Harvard University. (n.d.). Open Collections Program: Islamic Heritage Project - Home. Open Collections
Program: Islamic Heritage Project - Home. Retrieved from http://ocp.hul.harvard.edu/ihp/
Kropf, Evyr. (2012, November 15). Manuscript Studies in the Digital Environment: Islamic Manuscripts at
Michigan). Manuscript studies in the digital environment: Islamic manuscripts at Michigan. Retrieved
from http://mela.us/past_meetings/MELA_2012_Evyn_Kropf_pres.pdf
Overholt, John H. (2013). Five theses on the future of special collections. RMB: A Journal of Rare Books,
Manuscripts, and Cultural Heritage 14(1): 15-20. Retrieved from.
http://dash.harvard.edu/bitstream/handle/1/10601790/overholt.pdf?sequence=1
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Rawan, A. (November, 2012). Inter-institional collaboration between the University of Arizona Libraries
and the Afghanistan Cendtre at Kabul University on preservation and digitization of a unique Afgan
collection. Middle East Librarians Association conference,, Denver, CO. Retrieved from
http://mela.us/past_meetings/MELA_2012_atifa_rawan_pres.pdf
Recommended Readings:
American University in Cairo. (n.d.). Rare books and special collections digital library. Retrieved from
http://digitalcollections.aucegypt.edu/cdm/
British Library- What is Search our Catalogue Archives and Manuscripts. (n.d.). What is Search our
Catalogue Archives and Manuscripts: Mainly early Arab newspapers from the historical periodical
collections (1900-1950) at the Al-Aqsa Mosque Library in East Jerusalem. The newspapers were digitized
by British Library Endangered Archives Program. Full catalog entries for the collection can be seen in The
British Library’s main archives and manuscripts catalogue. Retrieved from http://searcharchives.bl.uk/
Center for Research Libraries - Collaborative Digitization. (n.d.). Center for Research Libraries Collaborative Digitization. Retrieved from http://www.crl.edu/collaborative-digitization
Center for Research Libraries - Area Microform Projects. (n.d.). Center for Research Libraries - Area
Microform Projects. Retrieved from http://www.crl.edu/area-studies
Center for Research Libraries - MEMP Microfilms Iraqi Newspapers. (n.d.). CRL News. Retrieved from
http://www.crl.edu/news/8047
Center for Research Libraries - Global Resources Program. (n.d.). Center for Research Libraries - Global
Resources Program. Retrieved from http://www.crl.edu/grn
Center for research libraries Middle Eastern political parties web harvesting and other efforts . Retrieved
from http://www.crl.edu/sites/default/files/attachments/pages/MEWebarchive-CRL-LC_0.pdf
European Union, Mediterranean Memory. Med-Mem offers the general public, and the younger
generation in particular, a trilingual site (French, English and Arabic) enriched by the insights and varying
viewpoints of more than 40 teachers and researchers specializing in the Mediterranean. Retrieved from
http://www.medmem.eu/
European Union, Mediterranean Memory. (n.d.). MED-MEM sharing our Mediterranean audiovisual
heritage launch of the website. Retrieved
fromhttp://www.copeam.org/UserFiles/File/Events/339_DP%2028092012%20EN.pdf
http://www.wdl.org/ar/search/gallery/?regions=middle-east-and-north-africa (In Arabic)
IRAQI Academic Scientific Journals. (n.d.) [“Full-text of recent Iraqi scientific journals from a variety of
institutions, many from the provinces. Site is under the direction of Iraqi Ministry of Higher Education”
(In Arabic or English)]. Retrieved from
http://www.iasj.net/iasj?uiLanguage=en
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Library of Congress Global Gateway- world cultures & resources. (n.d). Selections of Arabic, Persian, and
Ottoman Calligraphy: Home. Retrieved from
http://international.loc.gov/intldl/apochtml/apochome.html
Library of Congress Global Gateway. (n.d.) Digital collections Retrieved from
http://international.loc.gov/intldl/find/digital_collections.html
Middle East Librarians Association (MELA) (2012). Conference: Digitization environment contributions.
Retrieved from http://mela.us/past_meetings/12_info.html
Murphy, Caryle. (2002, December 18). The future of print the digital revolution and the prospects for
Arab newspapers. The Majalla, Retrieved from http://www.majalla.com/eng/2012/12/article55236690
New York University: Afghanistan Digital Library. (n.d.). About the Afghanistan digital library. Retrieved
from http://afghanistandl.nyu.edu/
New York University. (2013, April 10). NYU announces project to create Arabic collections online, an
Arabic-language digital public library. NYU News. Retrieved from http://www.nyu.edu/about/newspublications/news/2013/04/10/nyu-announces-project-to-create-arabic-collections-online-an-arabiclanguage-digital-public-library.html
Reed-Scott, Jutta. (1996). Scholarship research libraries and global publishing: the result of a study
funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Washington, DC: Association of Research Libraries.
Simpon, James. (2006, February 27).
Shamela E-book library. http://shamela.ws/ (In Arabic)
Weheba, I. (November, 2012). Multilingual access to Arabic digital resources using linked data
mechanisms and challenges. (Power Point) Middle East Librarians Association annual meeting, Denver,
CO. Retrieved from http://mela.us/past_meetings/MELA_2012_Iman_Khairy_pres%20(2).pdf
Wellcome Arabic manuscripts online (comprises around 1000 manuscript books and fragments relating
to the history of medicine). Retrieved from http://wamcp.bibalex.org/en/home
World Digital Library. Retrieved from http://www.wdl.org/en/
Yale University Library. (n.d.). OACIS - a union list of serials from or about the Middle East. Retrieved
from http://www.library.yale.edu/oacis/
Yale University Library. (n.d.). Near Eastern Collection. . Retrieved from
http://www.library.yale.edu/neareast/
Week 12:
Topic: Elements of cataloging and organization of ME publications; and Romanization tables:
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Required Readings:
Library of Congress. (n.d.) ALA-LC Romanization Tables. Retrieved from
http://www.loc.gov/catdir/cpso/roman.html
Arabic: http://www.loc.gov/catdir/cpso/romanization/arabic.pdf
Persian: http://www.loc.gov/catdir/cpso/romanization/persian.pdf
International cataloging and use of Latin scripts:
http://www.oclc.org/support/documentation/connexion/client/international/internationalcataloging.p
df
MELA-- committee on cataloging. (2010). https://sites.google.com/site/melacataloging/resources/rda
MELA-- committee on cataloging. (2010). https://sites.google.com/site/melacataloging/acm
MELA – committee on cataloging. (2010). Arabic cataloging manual, best practices for Arabic script
cataloging. Retrieved from https://sites.google.com/site/melacataloging/acm/bp
Library of Congress. (n.d.). Romanization Landscape. Retrieved from
http://www.loc.gov/catdir/cpso/romlandscape_Oct2011.html
Arabic Transliteration Scheme: ISO or LC?, Blair Kuntz (Number 78, 2005)
A discussion and comparison of two transliteration schemes.
Princeton Library. (n.d.). Arabic NACO Manual. Retrieved from
http://library.princeton.edu/departments/tsd/katmandu/cp20/aranatoc.html
Kristen E. Wilson. (2005, April). A Guide to Copy Cataloging Arabic Materials.
Retrieved from http://dc.lib.unc.edu/cdm/ref/collection/s_papers/id/776
Library of Congress. (n.d.) Arabic & Urdu_Final . Retrieved from
http://www.loc.gov/catworkshop/RDA%20training%20materials/SCT%20RDA%20Records%20TG/index.
html
Library of Congress. (n.d.) NACO - Name authority cooperative program of the PCC. Retrieved from
http://www.loc.gov/aba/pcc/naco/index.html
Library of Congress. (n.d.) SACO - Subject authority cooperative program of the PCC. Retrieved from
http://www.loc.gov/aba/pcc/saco/index.html
Library of Congress. (n.d.). PCC NACO funnel projects. Retrieved from
http://www.loc.gov/aba/pcc/naco/nacofunnel.html#skip_menu
Recommended Readings:
Arabic translation of FRBR: http://www.ifla.org/files/assets/cataloguing/frbr/frbr-ar.pdf (In Arabic)
Kopycki, William. (2005). Mid-East catalogers’ desktop.
http://www.mela.us/committees/cataloging/committee-on-cataloging.html
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Assignment 7: MARC assignments and hands on examples. To be created by the instructor
Week 13:
Topic: Library and information technology and ME librarianship collections:
Required readings:
Sharman, R. N. ed. (2006). The impact of technology on Asian, African, and Middle Eastern library
collections. (pp. xi-xiv, 3-180). Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press.
Houissa, A. (2006). The impact of technology on Middle Eastern collections and services in the United
States. In The impact of technology on Asian, African, and Middle Eastern library collections (pp. 219232). Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press.
Mohammed, A. M. (2006). The impact of technology on libraries and collections in the Arab countries of
the Middle East and North Africa. In The impact of technology on Asian, African, and Middle Eastern
library collections (pp. 183-194). Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press.
Shaheen, Sherif Kamel. 2006. Information Technology Applications in Information Work in Egypt: A
Puzzle Missing Some Pieces, (pp. 195-218). In The impact of technology on Asian, African, and Middle
Eastern library collections. Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press.
Week 14:
Topic: Middle East National and international library associations, mentorship opportunities with
MELA, review of course objectives and final term paper:
Required Readings:
Visit the following Web sites and note those resources that are of interest to Middle East Librarians.
1. Middle East Library Association, MELA. http://www.mela.us/
2. http://www.mela.us/committees/education/mentorship.html
3. Association of College & Research Libraries, ACRL a Division of ALA.
http://www.acrl.org/ala/mgrps/divs/acrl/index.cfm Section: Asian, African, and Middle Eastern
Section, AAMS. http://aamesacrl.wordpress.com/about/
4. MELCom International, the European Association of Middle East Librarians.
http://www.melcominternational.org/
5. International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions IFLA. http://www.ifla.org/
“The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) is the leading
international body representing the interests of library and information services and their users.
It is the global voice of the library and information profession.
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Assignment 8: Term Paper (5-6 pages): The purpose of this research paper is to give the student an
opportunity to select one aspect of Middle East Librarianship of interest to them and to critically
evaluate the issue. Students should demonstrate a knowledge of the terminology and vocabulary that is
used in this field. The last one or two paragraphs should be a concluding statement that expresses your
opinion based on research presented. This is a research- based paper that requires footnotes and a
works cited page. The citation format should be APA. The paper should be double spaced using 12point font, with not more than 1-in margins and no extraneous white space. Charts are acceptable. The
cover page and a works cited page are not included in the overall page count.
The term paper is due on the last day of the semester. A late paper will not be accepted.
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