Religion Collections in Libraries and Archives: A Guide to Resources in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia Table of Contents - Preface/Acknowledgements - Abbreviations Lists of Entries: District of Columbia - Maryland - Virginia

Islamic Center, Washington, D.C.

Access Policies

Reference Policy:

Telephone, mail, and on-site reference is provided

Borrowing Privileges:

Not a lending institution.

Networks/Consortia:

None.

Background Note:

Founded in 1947. Open to the public June 28, 1957.

Description of Collections

Books and monographs:

The Library holds approximately 4,000 titles, from the end of the 18th century to the present, with materials on Islam in 34 languages. Most works are in Arabic, with English-language materials second in number. Strengths of this collection are Islam, with special emphasis on its history, art, and relationship to other religions.

A computer catalog covers this collection.

Periodicals and newspapers:

The collection includes approximately 20 current subscriptions, from the mid-1980s to the present, focusing on Islamic society and history. Most journals are in Arabic. There is an especially strong collection of newsletters.

Videos and Sound Recordings:

About 190 films and videotapes, from 1980 to the present, covering Islam and its relationship to other religions as well as Islamic stories, rituals, and practices. There are also more than 50 audiotapes covering various Islamic topics. These materials are listed in a shelflist.

Paintings, photographs, slides, and prints:

Scores of photographs of the Holy sites at Mecca, Medina, and Jerusalem; pieces of the cover of the Holy shrine (Kaba'ah) house of Allah at Mecca; and some frames in Arabic scripts (calligraphy verses from the Holy Qur'an).

Databases, CD-ROMS and other machine-readable resources:

Holy Qur'an, Hadith

Subject Headings