From the genealogy (silsilanāma), Cream of Histories (Zübdet-üt Tevarih) – Chester Beatty Library, Ireland – CC BY https://www.europeana.eu/item/1100/6831?page=2

HERITΛGE and its partners, The Academic Research Institute in Iraq (TARII) and the Iraqi Library and Archives, are proud to announce the launch of the project Preservation of Libraries and Archives in Iraq: Building Capacity for Preventive Conservation and Climate Change Adaptation, funded by the U.S. Embassy in Iraq.

“We are proud to work with TARII to support the Iraq Library and Archives in preserving collections across the country. Our aim is to ensure that at the end of this project the custodians can work independently, with a strong in-country network to rely on,” HERITΛGE Director Dr. Evangelos Kyriakidis said. 

The archives and libraries of Iraq hold an extraordinary wealth of historical documents, but the country faces a shortage of professionals able to preserve them. The situation is made worse by the pressures of climate change that present custodians with new challenges.

To address these issues, the project will equip archivists and librarians in Iraq with the knowledge and tools necessary to undertake preventive conservation and implement climate change adaptation measures. It will provide custodians with essential project management and fundraising skills to  develop independent preservation initiatives. As part of the training, participants will develop and implement projects in their institutions with guidance from the instructors. This hands-on approach aims to build both the skills and the confidence of the custodians, enabling them to run independent projects in the future. The project will foster a professional network in Iraq to enhance mutual support and knowledge exchange. 

Call for Applications

The project partners are calling upon those interested to attend the training to apply by filling out this form: https://shorturl.at/cxRFp 

The courses are spread over 12 months and will include a week of in-person training in Sulaymaniyah in May 2025, October 2025 in Basra, January 2026 in Erbil, and April 2026 in Baghdad, with online sessions and tutorials in between. All travel expenses will be covered, and the students will be provided with the necessary materials to implement practical projects in their institutions.

At the end of the training, participants will be able to:

• independently undertake preventive conservation projects in their institutions, and train others.
• lead their institutions in climate change adaptation actions, including climate-related risk preparedness, and introduction of environmental policies.
• write proposals and manage projects.