King Abdulaziz Public Library and the Heritage Commission signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening cooperation between the two sides in various fields of national cultural heritage. The signing ceremony took place at the library (Services Branch and Reading Halls on Khurais Road in Riyadh) in the presence of His Excellency the General Supervisor of King Abdulaziz Public Library, Mr. Faisal bin Abdulrahman bin Muammar. Dr. Bandar bin Abdullah Al-Mubarak, Director General of the Library, represented King Abdulaziz Public Library in signing the memorandum, while Dr. Jasser bin Sulaiman Al-Harbash, CEO of the Commission, represented the Commission.

The MoU aims to enhance cooperation between the two entities in multiple areas, including: documenting cultural heritage sites in the Kingdom, exchanging information, and implementing joint projects and programs between them in the fields of heritage and archaeology, such as studying cultural heritage sites, preparing atlases, and developing databases. The memorandum also includes utilizing the expertise of both parties in the fields of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and activating them, in addition to exchanging literature and books related to Saudi cultural heritage, and exchanging relevant documents, information, photos, and maps.

The memorandum included cooperation in the fields of crafts and handicrafts, where both parties work on preparing studies and research and supporting efforts to market and promote traditional crafts, with the possibility of the Commission activating the facilities of King Abdulaziz Public Library through holding training programs and cultural events. The memorandum also includes cooperation in exchanging information to support efforts to inventory and document cultural heritage in various regions of the Kingdom.

The memorandum covered areas of media cooperation in marketing and promoting joint publications, exchanging scientific publications and reports, producing and publishing visual materials related to cultural heritage, and working together to issue specialized illustrated books, in addition to coordinating efforts to hold lectures, seminars, and local and international exhibitions specialized in cultural heritage and organizing joint media campaigns.

The memorandum stipulated joint cooperation between the two sides in the field of intangible heritage, to prepare scientific content that reflects the richness of intangible heritage in the Kingdom, with the library providing its rare sources such as: manuscripts, books, and historical documents to support documentation and research projects, as well as holding introductory workshops on this type of heritage in the facilities of King Abdulaziz Public Library.

This partnership comes in the context of the interest of King Abdulaziz Public Library and the Heritage Commission to expand the frameworks of institutional cooperation and support national efforts in protecting and developing the cultural heritage of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Since its establishment forty years a,, King Abdulaziz Public Library has worked on preserving national, Arab, and Islamic heritage in its various elements, including books, rare manuscripts and coins, photos, documents, and maps, and encouraging its presence in various specialized quality exhibitions it established or those it participates in inside and outside the Kingdom. It has provided the way for researchers and those interested in heritage to study, document, print, and verify it through its multiple branches.