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Hi, We supply foreign-language stock to most UK libraries and have supplied many Quran's over the years. From memory, the shelving issue has been raised once in the last 10 years or so and if I remember correctly, the library did honour the request and place the Quran on the top shelf. Public libraries tend to handle such requests as one-offs rather than introduce a policy (which would be difficult). Most (if not all) Muslims have their own personal copy of the Quran at home, and would rather read their own copy (before or after prayer, whilst clean). Translations of the Quran are more common on the library shelves - and readers of translations are less likely to be concerned about the shelf location (and more about the quality/source of the translation). Hope that helps. Shomi. www.booksasia.co.uk ----- Original Message ----- From: David Kerry To: [log in to unmask] Sent: Thursday, May 02, 2013 2:47 PM Subject: Re: Keeping the Qur'an on Library shelves Dear Chloe, A similar issue was raised on the ABTAPL mailing list a few years ago (that issue was a reader who wanted all Qur'ans placed on the top shelf). It is worth remembering that the issues only arise for the Qur'an in the Arabic text, not in translations. The discussion also included mention of another religion, whose scriptures were supposed to be placed on a table that people could walk around. I seem to remember that the general conclusion was that the library could not cater for all these ideas, while remaining confession-neutral in its organisation. Also apart from being space-inefficient, such special arrangements would disrupt the organisation of the library making the scriptures concerned harder to find (whether be adherents of the religion or by others who wished to consult them). But surely a reader who had such a conscientious approach to their scriptures would have their own private copy anyway, which they could use without the need to impose their approach on other readers? David Kerry Librarian Union Theological College, Belfast -----Original Message----- From: Chloe Barnes [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: 01 May 2013 11:56 Subject: Keeping the Qur'an on Library shelves Dear All, We have had a request from one of our Muslim users to remove our copies of the Qur'an from the Library shelves and place them in either the Muslim Reading Room or University Mosque. This is because of the need to carry out specific duties before being in physical contact with the Qur'an. This issue hasn't been raised with us before and we would like to see what others do in this instance before we respond? Any feedback gratefully received. Best Wishes, Chloe Chloe Barnes Collection Development Librarian (Job-share with Sian Cox) Wednesday afternoon, Thursday and Friday University of Sussex Library Falmer Brighton BN1 9QL 01273 872930 ________________________________ IMPORTANT NOTICE: This e-mail, and any attachment, is confidential. If you are not the intended recipient, you may not disclose or use the information in this e-mail in any way. If you have received this e-mail in error, kindly notify the sender and delete it from your system. The contents of this message may contain personal views which are not the views of Union Theological College, unless specifically stated. The sender does not guarantee the integrity of this e-mail or any attached files. [msg10323]