Funding organisation: DFG Funding level: Personnel and physical resources Running time: 2000 – 2005       Project description:   The Virtual Library of the Middle East / North Africa MENALIB was developed with the aim to make the entirety of the “new media” available for specialised information in all areas of society, especially research on the Middle East and North Africa. The most important goal was to unite spatially dispersed resources in a cooperative online structure. In line with the classic library mission, the main task of the MENALIB portal is the electronically supported collection, indexation and distribution of information. In this process of information supply included are both, information already stored digitally as well as information previously only available in conventional form, but now converted into digital format and distributed electronically. Concerning the organisation of the Virtual Library, the ULB Halle aims for the creation of sustainable, international, cooperative structures and close collaboration with partners from the respective subject sciences and the information sector. Since the end of the funding period in 2005, MENALIB has been further expanded by applying resources stemming from the ULB Halle.   Supplementary information and publications:     Homepage of the MENALIB Portal: www.menalib.de Wiederhold, Lutz: Menalib : die Virtuelle Fachbibliothek Vorderer Orient/Nordafrika. In: Bibliotheksdienst. – Berlin : ZLB. – Bd. 35.2001, 10, S. 1327-1336