New in the Leiden collections: the Amsterdam Yemen Library
The collections of Leiden University Libraries (UBL) have been enriched with the Maktabat al-Yaman al-Amstirdāmīyah, or Amsterdam Yemen Library. This collection, which exists of about a thousand books, journals and maps, is the largest coherent Yemen collection in The Netherlands and was brought together by the Amsterdam-based Yemen specialist Dr. Kees Brouwer, who obtained his Ph.D. in Leiden. Brouwer generously decided to donate the collection to Leiden University Libraries.
The collection consists of books and other materials about Yemen’s history and geography, from both Arab and European perspectives. A large part of the books is in Arabic and has mainly been obtained during Brouwer’s travels and long-term residence in Yemen and Egypt. The collection will be included in the Leiden collections in its entirety and will be available for loan for all library patrons.
During the handover ceremony, Brouwer presented the first copy of the accompanying catalogue to Kurt De Belder, director of Leiden University Libraries and University Librarian. During the coming months, the collection will be made available in the general catalogue of the library so that all users can access these materials. The collection will become an important part of the yet to be completed Middle Eastern Library in Leiden.
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Catalogue of the Maktabat al-Yaman al-Amstirdāmīyah -
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