Empowering Access

A new effort is underway in the Library’s African and Middle Eastern Division, thanks to support from Lilly Endowment Inc. The grant enables expanded research and public programming to illuminate the division’s collections on African and Middle Eastern religious cultures.

As part of this initiative, thousands of pages have been digitized, fellows have conducted in-depth research and a range of public programs has brought the division’s collections to broader audiences. Staff members also have presented at conferences to highlight the richness of the collections. Together, these efforts showcase the depth and complexity of religious life in the region, as well as the Library’s unique holdings.

Among the projects funded by the grant is Sacred Soundscapes: Hearing African and Middle Eastern Religious Culture, a Live! At the Library program series featuring rare materials alongside musical performances and poetry readings. In May, the series featured Echoes of al-Andalus, a program celebrating the centuries-long cultural interplay between Jewish and Islamic traditions in Spain and North Africa.

“At the intersection of Arabic, Hebrew, Ladino and Spanish cultures, the music of al-Andalus embodies the cosmopolitan spirit fostered by centuries of intercultural exchange,” noted Arab world specialist Muhannad Salhi.

That Thursday evening, the New York Andalus Ensemble filled the Great Hall of the Jefferson Building with the resonant sounds of this remarkable musical heritage. The combination of Andalusian poetry and improvised melodic modes (maqams/nubah) brought the Library’s collections to life, and Live! At the Library visitors experienced the tradition firsthand.

“The Lilly Endowment’s generous support has allowed us to enhance the visibility of the Library’s African and Middle Eastern collections and significantly increase their discoverability,” said Yoram Bitton, chief of the African and Middle Eastern Division. “By making these materials more accessible to scholars and the public alike, we are helping to foster deeper understanding of diverse cultures and traditions.”