Islamic Center, Washington, DC External

Address: 2551 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Telephone number: 202-332-8343

Contact information External

Hours of service: Monday--Friday 10:00 a.m.--5:00 p.m.

Open to the public: Yes

Interlibrary loan: No

Reference policy: Reference requests are accepted by: telephone, mail, in-person

Background note:
Founded in 1947. Open to the public June 28, 1957.

Books and monographs
The Library holds approximately 4,000 titles, from the end of the 18th century to the present, with materials on Islam in 34 languages. Most works are in Arabic, with English-language materials second in number. Strengths of this collection are Islam, with special emphasis on its history, art, and relationship to other religions.
A computer catalog covers this collection.

Periodicals and newspapers
The collection includes approximately 20 current subscriptions, from the mid-1980s to the present, focusing on Islamic society and history. Most journals are in Arabic. There is an especially strong collection of newsletters.

Videos and sound recordings
About 190 films and videotapes, from 1980 to the present, covering Islam and its relationship to other religions as well as Islamic stories, rituals, and practices. There are also more than 50 audiotapes covering various Islamic topics. These materials are listed in a shelflist.

Images
Scores of photographs of the Holy sites at Mecca, Medina, and Jerusalem; pieces of the cover of the Holy shrine (Kaba'ah) house of Allah at Mecca; and some frames in Arabic scripts (calligraphy verses from the Holy Qur'an).

Databases and/or electronic resources
Holy Qur'an, Hadith

Islam; Islam--History; Islam--Social life and customs; Islam and other religions; Islamic art; Mohammed, Prophet, d. 632; Qur'an