Last Thursday I was at the National Library looking for a specific book related to the Iraq invasion when I found a book called “Kuwaiti Resistance as Revealed by Iraqi Documents“. From the cover, it didn’t look like much but after flipping a few pages I was hooked. I knew I wanted that book so I went online to buy one from Amazon or eBay when I noticed the book was published by the Center for Research and Studies on Kuwait. The center was located next to my office so after work I decided to head to their small bookshop to see if they had it. They did, in fact, they had the book in English, Arabic, and French and for just KD3!
I’ve been meaning to post about the place for some time now ever since I found out they had a book shop. It was a small shop with just their publications so didn’t think it would be an interesting post but then on Thursday I also found out they had a library with a lot of interesting books and it was open to the public!
The Center for Research and Studies on Kuwait was established in 1992 with a number of objectives but mainly to collect various documents and studies relating to the Iraqi aggression against Kuwait. The book I purchased is one of many books the center has published on the invasion but they also have a wide range of books on Kuwait (history, environment, wildlife, etc).
The center has a library which although not as big as the National Library at least is open in the afternoon so people with jobs can pass by after work. The library is mostly filled with Arabic books but they did have a pretty decently sized section filled with English books as well as an archive of researches and presentations including proposals on the Kuwait Water Front Project (the Gulf Road basically) and original plans for the Kuwait Radion Television Centre which I had never seen before. They also had an archive of LIFE magazine issues dating from 1956 to 1963, two copies of the Saba Shiber book The Kuwait Urbanization and another book by Saba I didn’t know existed called Recent Arab City Growth (also dating back to the 60s and there is a copy on eBay for $375 so someone, please buy it right now because I can’t afford to buy all the rare books on Kuwait by myself).
If you’re looking to buy some books or spend some time in a library flipping through old books on Kuwait this is the place. Like I said it’s nowhere near as big as the Nationa Library but at least they have better opening hours. The center is open from 8AM to 1:30PM and then again from 5PM to 7:30PM. Here is their location on Google Maps.
15 replies on “Center for Research and Studies on Kuwait”
Thanks, Mark, for sharing. Their website is in Arabic (only, I think), so would you be able to confirm if they are open on weekends, by any chance?
They’re closed on weekends.
It’s a shame these things exist with little spotlight or exposure. The government PR machine is so so weak and bad.
No it’s because many of these books are irreplaceable, they don’t want you to know about them unless you are actually looking for them in which case you will treat them with respect. Most people barely treat anything with respect and manage to break the unbreakable, imagine what they would do to an old book that can easily tear. Also the government doesn’t make money from the library’s unlike some places which may have entrance fees, donation forms and fines so they don’t need to publicise it.
Brilliant idea. Let’s hide everything because people will ruin it.
Actually both of you are spot on.
The national library, for example, is doing exactly what cognac mentioned.
But in this case it’s more of what “Kuwait” mentioned because of the fact that they’re selling the books so cheap.
I got the opportunity to visit this place privately about two years ago. Was mainly interested in their collection of rare books. There was a sprinkling of English language books in this section and I am sure they have built up their collection since then. They even had a special room for the preservation and care of rare manuscripts / books which I though was quite impressive.
Ended up selling two rare books on Kuwait to the Director of the Center which I think was for his personal collection! So there is certainly one other person other than Mark who is gathering up all the rare books on Kuwait!:)-
On a happy note, I was gifted a handful of books published by the Center.
I got the opportunity to visit this place privately about two years ago. Was mainly interested in their collection of rare books. There was a sprinkling of English language books in this section and I am sure they have built up their collection since then. They even had a special room for the preservation and care of rare manuscripts / books which I though was quite impressive.
Ended up selling two rare books on Kuwait to the Director of the Center which I think was for his personal collection! So there is certainly one other person other than Mark who is gathering up all the rare books on Kuwait!:)-
On a happy note, I left the place with a handful of books as gifts – all published by the Center.
Mark, you also visit Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences in Sharq, they also have many interesting things. Last year my daughter join a free fun scientific course for kids and she got a free robot.
Can anyone go in?
I’m waiting for you to write a post on the really cool Arabic bookstores/cafes that are popping up all over the country namely “Sofia” in the Promenade and “Afkaar” in the View mall.
These places are so inspiring in that they encourage reading and their book collections are fucking awesome. The vibes of these places is also something to write home about – very chill and modern.
well it’s hard to connect with a place that only has arabic books since i don’t read arabic.
That’s what I’m saying, these places MAKE you want to read Arabic books (even if you can’t read Arabic lol). They’re that good especially Sofia at the Promenade. Gorgeous place.
A lot of your readers like me do read Arabic books and might just want to know about these places.
Just check em out whenever you get the time. You won’t regret it.
I passed by the one in Promenade after your recommendation, it didn’t do anything for me really. On the other hand, the stuffy Kuwait Heritage Library bookshop which I’ll post about in a bit… now that’s something special.
Nice!