Al Amana Centre Library Development

There are no visitors at Al Amana Centre (AAC) due to pandemic restrictions, yet one physical program is still underway.  The Al Amana Centre Library continues to be developed, and we hope that by the time guests once again stay at the Centre in Muttrah, the Library will be ready to be enjoyed.  

Over the last year three volunteers helped catalog books for the AAC Library.  David Malone, Dean of the Hekman Library at Calvin University and Seminary in Michigan, USA, came to AAC in January 2020.  He spent 2 weeks cataloging the Lewis Scudder collection of books, which was recently donated to AAC by Scudder’s wife.  The 200+ collection includes Muslim-Christian relations and many rare and old titles.  Lewis Scudder spent decades in the gulf region, being the 3^rd generation in his family to do so.  He died in 1998.  The AAC library holds several copies of Scudder’s book, The Arabian Missions Story:  In search of Abraham’s other son.

In February 2020 Anita Ruoklinen arrived to volunteer at AAC.  She learned the cataloging process and was able to add about 40 books to the system before she had to return to Finland due to Covid19 restrictions.  Anita also assisted AAC with administrative duties and hosting visiting groups.

Most recently Isaac Bos, son of Melissa and Jeff Bos who both work for AAC, began volunteering his time at the library.  Isaac is a senior this year at The American International School Muscat.  He printed and added labels to all the cataloged books in the main section of the library, most of which are on topics of religion, engagement with interfaith, and the Gulf region.   He also added about 60 more books into the online catalog system.  Finally, he invited staff, board members, and friends of AAC to become members of the library.

Anyone can view the online catalog.  Until you are able to again visit in person, we invite you to go to alamana.librarika.com to browse the collection.