Casa Árabe

EDWARD W. SAID MEDIA LIBRARY

The Edward W. Said Media Library is a multimedia centre specialising in contemporary Arab creative production. Open to the public, it has a bibliographic collection of reference works, in addition to sound, video and periodicals archives.

How is it organised?

The multimedia area is equipped with 26 multimedia workstations providing access to available archives.
A television area offers access to various Arabic television channels.
A study and reading area allows for the connection of personal computers.
The Media Library is an open access centre with a selection of various electronic supports.

The online facility, e-mediateca, provides access to the Media Library’s information and services via electronic documents, data bases and information obtained from the Web. This virtual environment includes the support of specialist reference sources on Arab artistic work and visual arts, including painting, sculpture, animation, comic, photography, cinematography, music, design (graphic, fashion, visual, etc), videoarte and netart.
There is a special section where Casa Árabe’s documentation output may be consulted, and a specialised collection on teaching and learning the Arabic language. Manuals of different skill levels may be consulted, in addition to dictionaries and new audiovisual methods for standard Arabic and various dialects.
The Media Library’s cinematographic resources enable enthusiasts to follow and learn more about cinema produced by today’s Arab directors: animation, factual and theatrical documentaries, feature films and videoart.
The sound library contains a varied repertory of musical genres and provides access to traditional and contemporary music. It devotes special attention to new trends in Arab music.
Every document in the sound library and film archive may be consulted from any computer in the room via an à la carte multimedia service (streaming).

Services offered:

Consultation in the room: listening, reading documents and internet access.
Consultation of the collection via the Web catalogue.
Access to online contents (e-mediateca): to see films, hear music and/or connect to the internet to consult matters related to the Arab and Islamic world.
Bibliographical information: information search, use of data bases or on subjects of choice.
Reproduction of documents: photocopy or digital copy, within legal limits.
Document access service: access to books and magazines held in other libraries or media libraries.
Guided visits, by appointment.