The Heritage and Culture Ministry in conjunction with the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) and Oman National Commission for Education, Culture and Science will organize a regional symposium on "the Manuscripts in the Arab World" during October 3rd till 5th.
A number of specialists and researchers in the field of manuscripts from the sisterly Arab States, such as, Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Yemen and Syria will take part in the symposium.
The Sultanate participation in the symposium will be represented by working papers from the Ministries of Heritage and Culture, Awqaf and Religious Affairs, Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) and Institute of Islamic Sciences.
The three-day symposium will discuss a number of important themes including what is relevant to the concept of the manuscript 'its history, types, physical elements and technical features'. Manuscripts exhibition will be held on the sidelines of the symposium.
The symposium will also deal with the use of information technology in saving the manuscripts "digitized manuscripts," in terms of their importance, requirements, features, rules of categorizing the manuscripts and samples of the Arab and Islamic manuscripts.
It will also touch on the status of manuscripts in the Arab World, the methodology of authenticating manuscripts, critical review to its schools and applications, maintenance and restoration of the manuscripts.
The symposium aims to raise the awareness towards the importance of preserving the manuscripts as an essential part of the antique heritage, the preservation and maintenance of the Arab and Islamic Manuscripts, the ideal utilization of modern technologies in e-documentation of manuscripts, rehabilitation of manpower in the field of manuscripts and identifying the status of the manuscripts in the Arab World.
It also aims to encourage cooperation between the researchers, intellectuals, those interested in the manuscripts and centres of manuscript in the Member States, as well as, Identifying areas of a broader exchange and cooperation between manuscripts centres in the Arab World.
Author: Asif Khalifa | Source: Global Arab Network [September 28, 2010]