May 15: Join Palo Alto U. to Celebrate Legacy of Omar Seddiqui

Palo Alto University Celebrates Legacy of Omar Seddiqui: A Champion of Learning, Literacy and Libraries

Join us on Tuesday, May 15 at 5 pm, at the library that bears his name at Palo Alto University (PAU): Omar Seddiqui Research Library, Palo Alto University, 1791 Arastradero Road, Palo Alto

Seddiqui, the former head of the Afghanistan public library system, died in September in San Jose at the age of 93. Before immigrating to the United States in 1982, Seddiqui spent more than two decades in Kabul, Afghanistan with the Ministry of Information and Culture. He was the Director and President of the National Archives and Public Library in his last 10 years at the Ministry.

“We are so very proud celebrating the legacy of this astonishing man who was passionate about learning, literacy and libraries,” said Palo Alto University President Maureen O’Connor. “At Palo Alto University, we blend the traditions of learning embodied by Omar Seddiqui with the latest in psychological science and technology. The support of the Seddiqui family has an enormous positive impact on our library's ability to contribute to that effort."

In 2010, Seddiqui’s son, Fred Seddiqui of San Francisco, established the Omar Seddiqui Library Fund to support Palo Alto University’s library, which was named after Omar Seddiqui the same year. “My father led an extraordinary life, much of which was driven by a love for books and reading,” said Fred Seddiqui. “It gives me great pleasure to know that his legacy lives on as part of Palo Alto University’s library. “

Generous donations by Fred Seddiqui’s family have provided students and faculty with access to Medline with full text database, EBSCO's Academic Source Premier Database, and EBSCO's Business Source Premier Database. A physical transformation of the library that includes new spaces and collaborative technologies is planned, and the Fund is laying the foundation for these moves.

"The hearth in our scholarly home here at Palo Alto University is the Omar Seddiqui Research Library," said Scott Hines, University Librarian and Director of Academic Technology. "The Seddiqui family's support and the inspiration of Omar Seddiqui's life bring scholarly warmth, light, and hearty sustenance to our faculty and students as they learn and collaborate in the library."

About Palo Alto University
Palo Alto University is dedicated to improving the human condition through excellence in teaching, research and scholarship in the fields of psychology and counseling. With an unwavering commitment to diversity and to the communities it serves, PAU offers doctorate, master’s and bachelor’s programs, as well as hands-on clinical training. A private non-profit university, PAU is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. For more information visit:www.paloaltou.edu.