Carleton librarian Margaret Haines couldn’t wipe the smile off her face Nov. 30, as representatives of the Institute of Ismaili Studies in London, England presented the Carleton library with more than 60 books covering a variety of topics concerning Islam.
“This is just a wonderful collection to add, so we’re delighted to accept it,” Haines said.
The donation, worth approximately $3,000, was geared to help enhance Carleton’s minor in Muslim studies, and to help establish Carleton’s Centre for the Study of Islam.
The donation was made in conjunction with the book launch for A Companion to the Muslim World, edited by former Carleton professor Amyn Sajoo.
Haines said she is delighted with this donation for a combination of reasons. Unlike other areas of the university, the library has not received an increased budged in recent years, Haines said. Further, its collection of books and budget in religion is not where she said she wants it to be.
“We stretch our book budget amazingly because we have many new students and many new programs. Every area gets less and less money as a result,” Haines said. “So to have a tremendous donation like this into one part of religious studies is fantastic.”
While the library does receive donations of book collections on occasion, Haines said she has never seen one quite like this.
“These are all current publications that are commercially available for sale,” she said. “We don’t tend to get a bulk gift like that.”
The donated books range from general Islamic studies to Quranic studies, Islam in Central Asia, Islamic art and architecture, and Shii studies, according to Institute of Ismaili Studies communications and project manager Asif Alidina.
Many of the books focus on the Ismailis, a specific sect within the Shii who are united in their allegiance to His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan.
Alidina said the Institute is calling these books “accessible publications,” in that they cater to not only academics and scholars, but also to people such as journalists, diplomats and others working in the Muslim world.
Knowing that Carleton was looking to establish its new Centre for the Study of Islam, Alidina said the institute saw this donation as an opportunity to fulfill their mandate of promoting “scholarship and learning on Islam and on Muslim societies and civilizations.”
Additionally, the former director of Carleton’s School of Journalism and Communications, Karim H. Karim, is now the co-director with the institute, so there was already a connection with Carleton. And the connection may not stop there.
“We said to them, any help they need from us in any way, we’d be happy in the future to explore other forms of collaboration,” said Alidina. “I think this is just the first step in finding ways to support each other.”
And after receiving such a welcome donation, Haines said she certainly feels the same way.
“Clearly, we’d be happy to engage in interlibrary loans,” she said. “Any discussions would be fantastic.”