Doha: HE Minister of Culture Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad Al-Thani, on Monday, honored the directors and staffers of the Dar Al Kutub Al Qatariya (Qatari Books House) who have been working there since its inception in 1962 until today. The honoring ceremony was held at the premises of the house in recognition of staffers' efforts in advancing the house. According to Qatar News Agency, Director General of Dar Al Kutub Al Qatariya, Ibrahim Al Buhashem Al Sayed, stated that the honorees had evident decades-long contributions in advancing the house, who spent plenty of years in promoting it, stressing that honoring them by HE the Minister of Culture is intended to encourage those who are in charge of this house to proceed with giving and assiduousness. The revamped house was inaugurated last week following an overall repair, during which it maintained its historic nature, with the addition of technological upgradation, underscoring the keenness to preserve the cultural legacy of the State of Qatar. By and large , the house is considered the oldest national library in the Arab Gulf states and one of the cultural institutions that has shouldered numerous cultural responsibilities since its establishment in 1962. It has not merely served as a repository for books or a public library but has also functioned as a beacon of culture and a civilizational center in the country, establishing its standing as the oldest book house in the Gulf region.