According to Khaneh Mellat, the ceremony marking the 33rd Book, Librarian, and Reading Week of the Islamic Republic of Iran was held on Saturday, 24 Aban, at the Parliament Library, with a speech by Dr. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Speaker of the Parliament.

In his opening remarks, Moeinipour described books as repositories of human material and spiritual experience, and reading as a bridge between past and future, inviting deeper understanding of the world. He highlighted the irreplaceable role of librarians as trusted guides, guardians of scientific heritage, and facilitators of access to resources.

Moeinipour stressed that books, readers, and librarians form a triangle: a book illuminates thought and experience; the reader animates its pages; the librarian guides the journey of discovery. He also traced the Parliament Library’s century-long history, noting its evolution into one of the country’s leading scientific and cultural centers, a “treasury of governance narratives” bridging theory and practice.

He called for new approaches in book culture and knowledge production, emphasizing the concept of “interrogating tradition.” Instead of merely preserving heritage, texts must be activated to transform past experiences into contemporary strategies, fostering public engagement and societal learning.

Moeinipour further highlighted the Library’s efforts in aligning book culture with the “knowledge and data management system,” stressing that books and libraries in Iran are underutilized as instruments of scientific production and policy-making. He pointed to the disconnect between written knowledge and everyday life, which widens gaps between governance, knowledge production, and the public.

On the history of science, he noted that understanding past scientific developments enables better policy-making and local knowledge development. The Parliament Library’s rich manuscript and archival collections can catalyze narrative reform and collective action.

Over the past year, the Library has: restructured its organizational framework, formed research and technology councils, revised regulations, advanced digital transformation, created specialized libraries, conducted research and publishing activities, and facilitated interactions between scholars and governance. Services are tailored to three groups: the public, elites, and policymakers.

Moeinipour concluded with the hope that the occasion would remind society of the importance of reading and inspire future cultural and scientific activities within the Parliament Library.

Mohsen Esmaeili:

“Society Has No Refuge from Madness Except Books”

Mohsen Esmaeili, Strategic and Parliamentary Affairs Deputy to the President, emphasized that books and knowledge are the true refuge for society. He cited the Qur’anic verse, “By the pen and what they write…”, highlighting that even the Prophet Muhammad was accused of madness, and God swore by the pen and book to defend him. Esmaeili concluded that the more a society values reading, the wiser it becomes.

The ceremony also unveiled eight new publications by the Parliament Library and honored notable scholars, librarians, and researchers, including Mohammad Kazem Rahmati, Mohammad Hassan Parsaeian, Akbar Tehrani Shafaq, Reza Shajari, and Aboutaleb Darvishan, in the presence of Speaker Dr. Ghalibaf.

End of message.