Hamad Bin Khalifa University Press Opens New Bookstore in Education City
The grand opening of Hamad Bin Khalifa University Press’s dedicated bookstore in Minaretein (College of Islamic Studies building) took place yesterday highlighting over ten years of excellence in the publishing industry
In the morning, Qatar Academy-Sidra students were invited to book readings by HBKU Press authors Muneera Saad Al-Romaihi, Dr. Jabr Al Naoimi, Zoya Anjum, and Johanna Handley.
Later in the day, guests were invited to join members of the publishing house for an informative evening to explore the publishing process and learn how HBKU Press leads the way with innovative initiatives that go beyond producing books.
“This is a momentous achievement for HBKU Press,” explained Bachar Chebaro, Executive Director of HBKU Press. “From our diverse portfolio of genres that includes award-winning and bestselling original works and works of translation to how we are represented on the global stage, HBKU Press has always sought to redefine the publishing landscape in Qatar.”
During the event, guests were invited to explore the different facets that make up HBKU Press publishing activities. Academic publishing was explored with regards to HBKU Press’s online, Open Access publishing platform, QScience.com, that provides high level services to researchers around the world in both Arabic and English. The team also presented HBKU Press’s commitment to publishing high quality original Arabic language works, accurate translations to and from Arabic, and books with important moral/cultural themes all of which support HBKU Press’s participation in cross-cultural communications. Additionally, HBKU Press exhibited its community outreach initiatives ranging from a multitude of opportunities for writers, authors, translators, and illustrators which serve to further promote literacy in the region.
HBKU Press’s international initiatives were highlighted as well. HBKU Press defined the value of participating in international book fairs for commercial reasons to sell books to audiences abroad and also as a platform to participate in the ‘rights sale’ of books whereby the transaction of buying and selling translation rights occurs. This, coupled with added value that the many of HBKU Press’s books receive when they win international awards, serves to further validate HBKU Press’s high standards of publishing on an international level.
HBKU Press is also committed to alternate publishing options that support sustainability and accessibility through the publishing of eBooks and audiobooks to meet personal and environmental market needs.
Also announced at the grand opening was HBKU Press’s upcoming conference in cooperation with the Qatari Forum for Publishing and Distributors, part of the Ministry of Culture and Sports in Qatar: the inaugural 2020 Doha Publishing Fellowship Program (DPFP). The conference will host over 40 foreign publishers from 25 countries around the world in two-day forum in January 2020. Scheduled activities include seminars from leading publishing industry experts and one-on-one professional exchange meetings with other publishers. The overall aim of the DPFP will be to build bilateral relationships between local and Arab publishers in the region with international publishers from around the world to create an open forum for publishing exchange.
“Within the local public sphere and on the international stage, the name Hamad Bin Khalifa University Press has become synonymous with quality, innovation, and excellence in publishing. What we do encompasses so much more than just making books: our holistic approach to publishing is the key factor to our success which is in line with the greater vision of Qatar Foundation’s leadership,” continued Chebaro.
HBKU Press’s bookstore is open Sunday to Thursday from 11a.m. to 5:30p.m. The complete collection of HBKU Press’s catalog of works, along with dedicated space highlighting the books of other local Qatari publishing houses, can be found in the HBKU Press bookstore.
