View source for Mosul library

{{short description|Library in Mosul, Iraq}}
{{Orphan|date=January 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}

{{Infobox library
| name                = Mosul library
| native_name         = <!-- Name in native language if different --> {{lang|ar|مكتبة الموصل}}
| native_name_lang    = <!-- ISO 639-2 code, e.g. "fr" for French. -->
| logo                = <!-- file name only (no Image: or File:) -->
| logo_size           = 
| logo_alt            = 
| image               = Mosul Library Outside-e1424800354833.jpg
| image_size          = 200px
| image_upright       = 
| alt                 = 
| caption             = The Mosul library in 2016<br />before its destruction.
| country             = Iraq
| type                = library
| scope               = 
| established         = 1921
| architect           = <!-- if known and notable --> 
| dissolved           = <!-- {{End date|yyyy|mm|dd}} -->
| ref_legal_mandate   = 
| location            = 
| service_area        = 
| coordinates         = {{Coord|36|20|51|N|43|9|3|E|display=inline}}
| location_map        = Iraq physical map.svg
| branch_of           = 
| num_branches        = 
| items_collected     = 15,000
| collection_size     = <!-- {{Format price|number}} -->
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| website        = <!-- {{URL|www.example.com}} -->
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}}
The '''Mosul Library''' is a public library located in the city of [[Mosul]], north of "[[Iraq]]. In particular, it houses rare and ancient works, including testimonies of the invention of writing – this region<ref>More broadly the Middle East, formerly [[Mesopotamia]] (cf.[[Ethiopia]] etc.)..</ref> being considered as the [[Cradle of Civilization]]; or even for some the Cradle of humanity<ref>{{cite web|title=Is the cradle of humanity in Europe rather than Africa?|url=http://www.futura-sciences.com/magazines/terre/infos/actu/d/paleontologie-on-retrouve-berceau-humanite-12437/|access-date=September 27, 2020}}.</ref> (as indicated in the writings compiled for the elaboration of the Bible,<ref>The Garden of [[Garden of Eden|Eden]] being irrigated by the Tigris and the Euphrates ([[Garden of Eden]])</ref> then from the [[Quran]]).<ref>The Prophet said: "The Euphrates will reveal the treasures it holds; anyone who witnesses should not take anything." (Sahih Boukhari, vol. IX, book 88, no. 235)</ref><ref>In the episode of the [[Dilge]], with Noah ("We then opened the gates of heaven to a torrential rain, and gushed out of the earth from the springs. The waters met according to an order that was already decreed in a thing [done]. And We wore it on an object [made] of boards and nails [the Ark]."(Koran, 54: 11–13 quoted in particular in [http://www.miraclesducoran.com/historique_06.html ce site.])</ref><ref>''"Large cities will be ravaged and we will have the impression that they had never existed. (Hadith)'' when the Koranic tradition evokes "the end of time", (the Apocalypse in Christian language).</ref>

Many have been destroyed since 2015 by the action of the members of the [[Islamic State]] terrorist organization.

==Collection==
Its [[Collection (museum)|collection]] includes centuries-old [[Creative work|work]]s such as manuscripts from the {{circa|18th century}}, works Syrians from the {{circa|19th century}}, and [[Antiquities|ancient objects]],<ref name="nouvelobs 25/02/15">{{citation|title=ISIS burns 8,000 rare pounds in Mosul|date=February 25, 2015 |publisher=The New Observer|access-date=February 25, 2015 |url=http://tempsreel.nouvelobs.com/monde/20150225.OBS3327/irak-l-etat-islamique-brule-8-000-livres-rares-a-mossoul.html }}</ref> some dating back to 5000 BCE.<ref name="s_1647845">{{cite web|title=In Mosul, Daesh attacks libraries|date=February 3, 2015 |publisher=[[L'Express|The Express]]|access-date=2024-01-18|url=http://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/monde/proche-moyen-orient/a-mossoul-daech-s-attaque-aux-bibliotheques_1647845.html}}</ref>

Since the intentional destruction of thousands of structures in 2015, the inventory of the remaining structures is no longer guaranteed and needs to be updated.

==History==
The library was created in 1921.<ref name="Le Figaro">{{cite web|author=Clara Galtier|url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/international/en-irak-la-bibliotheque-de-mossoul-renait-de-ses-cendres-20230209 |title=In Iraq, the Mosul library rises from its ashes |periodical=[[Le Figaro]] |date=February 10, 2023|pages=15}}</ref>

On February 22, 2015, while the city of [[Mosul]] has been controlled for several weeks by the terrorist organization [[Islamic State (organization)|Daesh]], [[improvised explosive device]]s placed in the library destroy by fire about {{formatnum:8000}} old books.<ref name="nouvelobs 25/02/15"/> These destructions of [[Creative work|work]]s are part of a more general regional context with the destruction of churches, the burning of the library and theatre of the [[University of Mosul|university]] in January<ref name="nouvelobs 25/02/15"/> and on February 26, a few days after the fire of the library, the destruction of works of the [[Mosul Museum]].<ref name="F24a">{{cite web |url=http://www.france24.com/fr/20150226-irak-mossoul-organisation-etat-islamique-demolit-statues-paiennes-vieilles-plus-2000-ans/ |website=France 24 |
title=Mossoul : l'EI démolit des statues vieilles de plus de 2 000 ans |trans-title=Mosul: ISIS demolishes statues more than 2000 years old |date=February 26, 2015 |access-date=January 18, 2024}}</ref>

Alerts on these [[Auto-da-fé]]s were issued as early as January 2015; in early February, through its Director-General [[Irina Bokova]], the [[United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization|UNESCO]] states that "if confirmed, it would be one of the largest intentional destructions of works in human history".<ref name="lepoint 03/02/15">{{cite web|url=http://www.lepoint.fr/culture/l-unesco-preoccupee-par-de-presumes-autodafes-de-livres-en-irak-03-02-2015-1902122_3.php|title=Unesco concerned about alleged book burnings in Iraq|author=|date=February 3, 2015 |access-date=2015-02-03}}</ref> An amputation confirmed since this alert.<ref>{{cite web |title=Daech bombarde la bibliothèque de Mossoul |url=http://www.livreshebdo.fr/article/daech-bombarde-la-bibliotheque-de-mossoul |website=Livres Hebdo |access-date=January 19, 2024 |language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Mosul: Helplessly witnessing the cultural cleansing of Daesh?|url=https://www.actualitte.com/bibliotheques/mossoul-assister-impouvoir-au-nettoyage-culturel-de-daesh-55512.htm |website=actualitte.com|access-date=2020-09-27}}</ref><ref name="s_1647845" />

In the end, only 15000 books out of a million documents could be saved from the destruction of the Islamic State.<ref name="Le Figaro"/>

The library is being rebuilt with the help of the [[United Nations Development Programme|UNDP]] and reopens in 2022. Many donations of books are made from all over the world to stock its shelves.<ref name="Le Figaro"/>

==References==
<references/>

{{Portal|Iraq}}

[[Category:1921 establishments in Iraq]]
[[Category:Libraries in Iraq]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Mosul]]