The Library
Pre-eminent among the library’s collections are items relating to the careers and academic achievements of Doctors Aziz and Gwen Sancar. Most notably, objects associated with the body of work that led to the awarding of the 2015 Nobel Prize in Chemistry to Aziz Sancar. In addition to a wide range of books detailing Türkiye’s and the region’s history and culture, the room contains a rotating collection of artifacts and honorabilia gifted to the Sancars over recent years, including mementos associated with the awarding of the Nobel.
The library is available for viewing during regular opening hours and for use by appointment. While the collections are not available for lending, scholars and other interested individuals are welcome to use the materials in-house with prior arrangements. A catalog of the Sancar Turkish Cultural and Community Center (STCCC) library holdings can be viewed here.
The Space
The library at the Sancar Turkish Cultural and Community Center occupies a prominent place in the facility and is a center of its cultural and programmatic offerings. The room, located near the front entrance to the building, is accessed through hand-crafted wooden doors specially made in Türkiye.
Its interior decor and design includes an exquisite conference table, chairs, and wooden beams hung with Turkish, American, and Turkic states flags. A wall of arched windows runs the length of the room, a feature common in traditional Turkish architecture, allowing the space to fill with natural light.
A lovely traditional Ottoman settee occupies space in front of a wall of genuine Mardin stone imported from the home province of Aziz Sancar. The limestone wall is reminiscent of the beautifully carved, crafted, and preserved stone homes in Mardin – some of which date to the 1100s.
Its interior decor includes an exquisite conference table, chairs, and wooden beams hung with Turkish, American, and Turkic states flags.
The developing collection of print, audiovisual, and digital resources contributes to the Aziz and Gwen Sancar Foundation’s mission of promoting a greater understanding of Türkiye and the Turkic peoples.
The Collections
Click on a section below to learn more about our book and artifact collections.
