Official government website of the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 
The university launched the new name for the Central Library, which will be named "Prince Dr. Faisal bin Mishaal bin Saud bin Abdulaziz Library." This took place on Monday, 2/3/1442 AH, during a ceremony held for the occasion in the main atrium of the university city, in the presence and under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Dr. Faisal bin Mishaal bin Saud, Governor of Qassim region.
This designation came after the University Council was honored by approving that this scientific and knowledge edifice be adorned with His Highness's name, in appreciation of His Highness's role, interest, and continuous support for all university activities and events, and his patronage and support for the university and his continuous encouragement for the university's achievements in the educational process, scientific research, and community service.
During his speech at the ceremony, His Excellency the President of the University, Professor Dr. Abdulrahman bin Hamad Al-Dawood, said: "The university is honored by the attendance of His Highness the Prince of the region, and his continuous participation and support for many of its developmental, educational, and advancement occasions, which has positively reflected on its journey, leading it to achieve advanced positions in the hierarchy of university education at local and international levels.".
He added: It is a source of happiness and pleasure that on this day we celebrate a different and special occasion, which came as an expression from the university council of the appreciation and gratitude held by its staff, students, and female students for His Highness the Prince of Al-Qassim, in recognition of the continuous attention, support, encouragement, and motivation he provides to it.
"Al-Dawood" pointed out that the university chose the symbolic recognition of His Highness, the Emir of the region, to be related to the field for which he is known, given his close ties to culture, science, and knowledge, and his continuous relationship with the academic and intellectual sphere. Therefore, the members of the university council decided that the central library of the university would bear his name, in recognition and appreciation of His Highness's blessed efforts in supporting all activities related to culture, reading, and knowledge in the Qassim region and beyond, in addition to His Highness's activities in authorship, publishing, and scientific research in general.
"Al-Dawod," on behalf of the university council members, professors, male and female employees, and male and female students, extended his sincere thanks and appreciation to His Highness the Governor of Qassim, for his generous approval to name the Central Library at the university after him, making it "Prince Dr. Faisal bin Mishaal bin Saud bin Abdulaziz Library." He noted that it is a rich and diverse library, considered one of the largest university libraries in our dear homeland, and strives to provide diverse information resources that meet the needs of beneficiaries in line with the requirements of the era, and to develop the educational and research performance at the university in accordance with its distinguished role in serving the community.
The President of Qassim University explained that this library contains more than three hundred thousand titles in various sciences and specializations, in addition to university theses, original manuscripts, and peer-reviewed journals. It also has thirty-four branch libraries in the university colleges spread throughout the region, and it has subscriptions with the Saudi Digital Library, which provides more than one hundred and fifty international and Arabic databases.
Next, His Excellency the President of the University announced His Highness the Emir of the region's gift to the library, which came in the form of 50 computers to assist library patrons in their research. He expressed his sincere thanks and appreciation to His Highness for his efforts and contributions to the university. He affirmed that the library, honored by His Highness's approval of the naming, looks forward to a bright future with its patrons and collections. He prayed to God Almighty to grant His Highness success and protection, and to grant all of us success in serving knowledge and its people. He also prayed that we may contribute to achieving the aspirations of our wise government's vision, led by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and His Highness the Crown Prince (may God protect them), for the scientific progress and intellectual development of this generous nation. We ask Him for the continuation of the blessings of security, safety, knowledge, and tranquility.
The ceremony included a tour of the central library building by His Highness the Prince of the region and his accompanying delegation. They also watched a video produced by the General Administration of Media and Communication of the university, about the establishment of the library in 1425 AH, corresponding to 2004 AD, after the kind royal approval was issued for the establishment of the Deanship of Library Affairs at the university. The nascent deanship's first task was to merge the university's libraries under one umbrella, which is the central library. The film clarified that since its inception, the library's collection of books and information sources has increased, reaching over 305,000 titles at the beginning of this year, covering various sciences and specializations, in addition to a collection of theses and refereed periodicals and magazines, exceeding 35 original manuscripts.
The Central Library subscribes to the Saudi Digital Library, which allows university staff to access the Digital Library's website and utilize over 446,000 books and 150 international and Arab databases, containing full texts of millions of academic articles, in addition to over five million university theses and 460,000 multimedia resources, including scientific images and films across various disciplines.
The library consists of two floors. The first floor contains a special section for practical books and references, individual and group research study rooms, in addition to reading halls, research equipment, self-checkout machines, and special donated library collections. The second floor houses a section for university theses, a hall for scientific periodicals, and reading and reference rooms. The central library also offers book and reference borrowing services to university students, faculty members, staff, and community members. The central library is supplemented by thirty-four branch libraries distributed across various colleges in the region, in addition to a large library in the female students' section at the university's main campus.
The Central Library averages between 400 and 500 visitors per academic day. The library is open for twelve hours daily, from 8 AM to 8 PM. Over the academic year, more than 8,000 books and references covering various fields that serve faculty members, researchers, and students are loaned out. Additionally, there are 200,000 accesses to electronic databases for searching scientific journals and periodicals, and 70,000 accesses to scientific books and references.
