Kuwait’s higher education libraries: a descriptive analysis

Abstract

The article covers the history of the development of academic libraries in the State of Kuwait, a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council. The establishment of a private higher education system only began in the second millennium, and therefore new private academic libraries were established only a decade ago. Prior to that, academic librarianship in Kuwait was represented by the state-owned Kuwait University libraries. The evolution of new academic libraries in Kuwait has enriched the research sphere, created new opportunities, and fostered a competitive environment for academic librarians, each working in his/her respective institution. This article examines the development of new private university libraries and their progress in comparison with public institutional libraries. It reviews key studies on academic librarianship in Kuwait and sheds light on new libraries in the private sector, their services, facilities, and their level of involvement with the Kuwaiti community. It also identifies common constraints faced by those institutions’ libraries and possible solutions.