Save Dutch Egyptology and ANE studies

The fact that the NINO library is closely connected to the offices of the staff members of Egyptology, Assyriology and Ancient Near Eastern Studies is a major asset for teaching, research, and the collegial atmosphere; moving it elsewhere would diminish this internationally renowned institute. The library staff of the NINO has the expertise to maintain the high standards of the library - replacing them would be a incredible mistake and a loss to the LIAS.

keep an indepenent NINO alive

One should be very careful with the glorious tradition of Near Eastern studies in Leiden!

NINO should be kept alive

The NINO is a unique institution that offers a very special research synergy and is valued internationally. A proposal to dismantle it poses a serious danger to quality research in humanities.

Breek niet af wat we hebben opgebouwd. Laat het NINO voortbestaan, investeer in onderzoek! Want kennis zal ons verder brengen.

Houd Nederlands wetenschappelijke reputatie hoog en maak een einde aan de afbraak van de laatste decennia.

why obstruct or alter a living active system?

In spite of all positive intentions I fear that the present initiative will jeopardize the unique position of the NINO, the last stronghold of Egyptology in the Dutch academic world.

Please give a thought to the long term over the short term. Don't let the NINO become the next KIM!

we should be careful with cultural heritage!

Unthinkable that an institution that is of the highest standard would be diluted by bringing it - without its dedicated and proper staff - into another organisation. Bad idea.

NINO has world-wide high reputation, and the proposed changes will reflect very negatively on the quality of Leiden University.

Aan important resource that must be preserved.

Knowledge once lost is not so easily regained again.

Nino is a really unique centre of excellence, unparalleled in Europe with its long tradition of studies, researches, collections, its library, a real bridge between Europe and the now threatened Middle East, between a common Mediterranean pasta and an actual European and Eastern present. .

NINO is a crucial institution for European research – a jewel definitively worth preserving.

Sinds 2000 ben ik hoogleraar aan de University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) en vanaf dat jaar heb ik getracht een werkomgeving te creëren die het NINO ook maar enigszins benadert. Dat blijkt praktisch onmogelijk. Egyptologie en het Oude Nabije Oosten in Leiden zijn gezegend met een Instituut dat bibliotheek en studieruimte op unieke wijze integreert. Opheffing van het NINO zou een enorm verlies zijn.

I visited several times NINO. They have built the best LIBRARY in Europe on the Ancient Near East, including Egypt. This because it is un independent Institution. Not to say of the work done in the Near East

I was very worried to hear about the reorganisation plan. Effectively it means breaking up the NINO. This is worrysome for the institute itself but a potential disaster for Dutch Near Eastern archaeology, which is internationally held in high esteem. I can understand why many within our academic management would like nothing less, or at least care very little. But Leiden academia has a long, succesful, respected and vigorously continuing tradition of scholarly work in the MENA region in archaeology, assyriology, the study of ancient religion, anthropology, etc. This work and the dedicated community of scholars doing this work make Leiden Uni stand out internationally. NINO acts as a hub for this network. The easy accessibility and broad scope of the NINO library are its strenght, and a strong NINO contributes much to the Leiden University profile. I urge the Leiden management to overcome itself and do whatever it takes to allow this institute to flourish. O. Nieuwenhuyse AvH Stiftung & Freie Universitát, Berlin LDE Centre for Global Heritage and Development, Leiden