Bridges of Trust : The symbolism of the Destruction and Reestablishment of Libraries

Abstract: National libraries play a leading role in the creation of national identities. For that reason, the destruction and reestablishment of libraries may hold strategic meanings beyond the physical. This master thesis examines the symbols and cultural implications of such devastating events and resilient initiatives. Data for the thesis was collected through interviews with two librarians in Baghdad, who have experienced or witnessed the destruction and reestablishment of libraries. The data was then thematically coded, analyzed, and interpreted. Among the implications discussed in the thesis are the roles of libraries in uniting the nation’s citizens by creating a mutual national identity and representing multiculturalism by diversifying the national collections. The destruction and reestablishment of libraries play important roles in understanding national, historical, and personal identities. The destruction of libraries works as a strategy to destroy identity, making the reestablishment an act of resistance. The findings show that national libraries may bring about political and/or social change, and that the reestablishment of libraries may symbolize resistance against an oppressive power.