2017/04/13 by Ian Johnson · 1 citation
Arts and Humanities · #Archaeology #Art #Computer science #Cultural History and Identity Formation #Digital and Traditional Archives Management #Foundation (evidence) #History #Library science #National library #Political science #Resource (disambiguation)
paper · doi:10.5871/bacad/9780197266076.003.0011
openalex publication_date 2017/04/13 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01
This chapter discusses Gertrude Bell’s involvement in the foundation of the Baghdad Public Library and the Iraq Museum Library, shedding light on issues that have surrounded their creation and development. It identifies Muriel Jesse Forbes as the person who actually initiated the concept for the library that, as a result of Bell’s energetic support, became the Baghdad Public Library and ultimately the National Library of Iraq. It also reviews Bell’s commitment to the development of a library as part of the Iraq Museum, and outlines its growth into a major information resource on the history and archaeology of Iraq. Finally, it considers the motives underlying the efforts of Bell and her contemporaries, and their impact on the subsequent development of library and archives services in Iraq.