Institute of Arabic Manuscripts: an Evaluation of its role in Collecting and Cataloging Arabic Manuscripts

The Manuscripts Institute is considered one of the basic pillars for the common Arab work in the cultural field that is represented by the Arab Organization for Education, Culture and Science. This is because of its distinguished position in the world of thought and the Arab human cultural heritage.
This study aims to highlight the efforts of the Manuscripts Institute in collecting and indexing Arabic manuscripts, evaluating the efforts of the Institute and identifying the positive and negative aspects that prevent it from achieving its mission to the fullest. The study seeks to shed light on the institute's groups and know the criteria that are followed for selecting these groups and determining where to obtain them, in addition to the institute's efforts in fields of indexing, publishing and investigation.
The study used the methodology of case study, which is used to study a specific case in order to discover all the pros and cons of this entity and to come up with results that contribute to developing solutions to the existing negatives to modify the course of that case through the application of several tools, including: direct observation, and personal interviews with those in charge of the institute.
The study showed the institute’s interest in quantity rather than quality and not following rules and bases for photographing manuscripts. Although at the beginning of its establishment it set criteria and bases for selecting manuscripts for photocopying, it randomly photographed its manuscripts, which resulted in the repetition of copies of its manuscripts.