Middle East Libraries Committee

December 2007

REVIEW OF USER REQUIREMENTS FOR DIGITISED RESOURCES IN ISLAMIC STUDIES

The JISC invites proposals to review requirements of researchers and teachers, within the HE community, in relation to the use of digitised resources in Islamic Studies.

Funding of between £25,000 and £35,000 is available for this work, inclusive of VAT and expenses. The project will run from March-May 2008.

Tenders should be submitted no later than 12:00 on Friday 18 January 2008.
Further information including the full ITT can be found at http://www.jisc.ac.uk/fundingopportunities/funding_calls/2007/12/islamicstudies.aspx
 

April 2007

From Abacus to Algorithm

Professor Charles Burnett FBA will deliver a public lecture on the Discovery of Arabic Mathematics in the West. Arabic mathematics in the High Middle Ages was far more advanced than mathematics in the Latin West. Western mathematics was stimulated by the translation of major Arabic mathematical texts, such as Al-Khwarizmi’s Algebra. Abraham ibn Ezra and other Jewish scholars played an important part in the transmission of this vital knowledge. Professor Burnett will trace this cooperation between Muslim, Jewish and Christian scientists and show how it laid the foundations of modern science.

The lecture will be held in the Reading Room of the John Rylands University Library at Deansgate on Monday 30th April at 5.30pm. Seating is limited, so to reserve a place, please call 0161 275 87 37 or e-mail Danielle.Shields@manchester.ac.uk.

Naughty words

“Manchester tourist guide” under the title of “Manchester Libraries,”

 http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/tourist/libraries/s/63/63174_john_rylands_library.html

 One of the books at John Rylands is known as the Wicked Bible.  Printed in London in 1631 it had a typographical error.  The vital little word “not” was omitted from the seventh commandment.  Thus is read Thou Shalt Commit Adultery.  Not a suggestion then but an order!

March 2006

al-Maqasid

The recent publication by al-Maqasid Research Centre (at the Al-Furqan Islamic Heritage Foundation) is entitled:

Maqāsid al-sharī'ah al-Islāmīyah :Dirāsāt fī Qadāyā al-Manhaj Majālāt wa al-Tatbīq
Studies in the philosophy of Islamic law : theory and applications (seminar)
Editor: Mohmaed S. el-Awa
ISBN 1905650019 pp.:540
Date: 2006

Historiography and classification of science in Islam

Al-Furqan Library has acquired the latest series published by the Institute for the History of Arabic-Islamic Science at the Johann Wolfgang Goethe University:
Historiography and classification of science in Islam / Edited by Fuat Sezgin
46 volumes
Date: 2006

February 2006

Purple Area

“The Near Eastern Collection at the John Rylands is being relocated to the Purple area of the library as we hoping to have a humble re-open of the House of Manuscripts in Deansgate by the end of April. Which means that the Special collections books that we kept here at the main library for nearly three years now will not be accessible for sometime until the transfer is complete.”