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Turathuna
Center for Palestinian Heritage at Bethlehem University

The aim of Turathuna is to provide a venue for increased understanding about Palestinian national heritage. The center is a combination of a library and a museum. Accordingly, Turathuna is a useful resource tool for a number of Bethlehem University academic courses such as history, tourism, cultural studies, social science and geology, as well as the new required course in Conflict Resolution, Civil Society and Democracy. Activities will also include adult education initiatives and programs for international summer school participants.

At the center, there will be less emphasis on the access of information from books or on the collection of precious artifacts, and more on independent and interactive access, thus combining the past with the future in manner that allows visitors to discover Palestinian heritage through new technology.

Turathuna's approach to promoting a sense of national identity will be cultural and heritage-related. It plans to provide a comprehensive perspective on Israeli and regional history, while emphasizing the Palestinian nationalist perspective.
Turathuna, as an extension of the University Library, will make its holdings accessible to the general public, and will provide facilities for users to access material interactively and independently. Interactive touch-screen computer technology will play an important role. Turathuna will also provide space for illustrated talks and workshops for school, community groups and teachers, and for permanent displays and focused exhibitions.

The center is of direct value to the tourism and hospitality sector. The center will serve as tourist attraction, and it will help develop tourist entertainment based on traditional music, dance and folktales.

Turathuna has its entrance within the University Campus, but separate to that of the University Library, to facilitate access by the public. Due to restrictions on the movement of Palestinians, it is expected that most beneficiaries will be resident in the Bethlehem area, with a population of approximately 100,000 people.

The Palestiniana from the Bethlehem University Library is now housed in Turathuna, as are some of the donated collections of individuals. The University is also providing some furniture and equipment, including bookshelves and microfiche equipment.

The establishment of Turathuna is a gift from the Irish Government to the Palestinian people within the context of Bethlehem 2000 projects. The aim of Turathuna is to be a positive sign or signal of Palestinian identity through increased familiarity and pride in national heritage.

The main focus of Turathuna will be educational. The displays are designed to attract the visitors' attention by arousing curiosity. Each display will be accompanied by a CD-Rom, as well as in printed format, giving more detailed information on the topic.

Turathuna aims to become an important resource for anyone interested in Palestinian heritage and culture. In cooperation with other centers and museums in Palestine, it will act as a referral center indicating places where other materials, particular buildings, sites and artifacts, may be viewed.