Beirut:AUB Press, the publishing division of the American University of Beirut (AUB), has announced the release of seven new titles scheduled for 2026 along with the launch of a digital humanities platform. This initiative aims to enhance the accessibility of research and strengthen the connection between academic scholarship and cultural life outside the university environment.
According to National news agency - Lebanon, Professor Bilal Orfali, director of AUB Press and Sheikh Zayed Chair for Arabic and Islamic Texts and Studies at AUB, emphasized the importance of the reach of the university press's publications. The newly announced books explore various subjects, including the history of a neighborhood, a city, a family library, a presidency, and a language, while the digital humanities platform will enable the dissemination of research in forms that transcend the limitations of printed books.
The new books cover a wide range of topics, from the oral history of a Beirut neighborhood to the exploration of a scholarly family library in Ottoman Damascus. The collection includes titles such as "We Are in This Together An Oral History of Ras Beirut" by Maria Bashshur Abunnasr and "Fouad Chehab and the Politics of Reform in Lebanon" by Dr. Simon A. Kachar. These publications reflect the press's commitment to offering rigorous scholarship in both Arabic and English, addressing a readership that extends beyond the region.
In addition to book publications, AUB Press has introduced a digital platform that consolidates its digital work into an accessible open archive. This platform features open-access publications, a multimedia library of recorded talks and workshops, and specialized digital humanities projects. The first project is the Mohammad Ramadan Project, an audio archive devoted to the life and work of Hajj Muhammad Darwish Ramadan, preserving his legacy and contributions to the city's religious and cultural heritage.
The digital humanities platform signifies AUB Press's dedication to preserving diverse forms of knowledge, such as oral traditions and multimedia resources, which may not be suited to traditional print formats. This initiative underscores the press's responsibility to maintain records of significant cultural and historical narratives.
