Experts at the Sharjah Book Fair"Knowledge is the cornerstone of building societies

Sharjah, 6 November / WAM / Experts and specialists in the library and information sector have confirmed that knowledge is not a luxury, but rather a fundamental pillar in building human awareness and the progress of societies, and that establishing a culture of knowledge and enabling individuals to access it is the first step towards rational decision-making and sustainable development.

This came during a dialogue session entitled “Knowledge is Power: Towards an Integrated Information Society” organized by the Emirates Library and Information Association within the activities of the 44th edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair held at the Sharjah Expo Center under the slogan “Between You and the Book,” with the participation of Dr. Fatima Ali Al-Maamari, Acting Director of the Cultural Heritage Department at the Ministry of Culture, and Fahd Ali Al-Maamari, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Emirates Library and Information Association and a researcher in folklore.

Dr. Fatima Al-Maamari spoke about the pivotal role of the Ministry of Culture in supporting access to knowledge and expanding its scope, stressing that knowledge represents an integral part of the Ministry’s orientations in all its programs and initiatives because of its impact in shaping the individual’s awareness and enhancing his cultural affiliation and identity.

She pointed out that the Ministry is working to empower the knowledge community through public libraries, children’s libraries, creative centers, and organizing National Reading Month activities, in addition to the creativity grants it provides to the gifted and those aspiring to knowledge, in addition to its efforts to document the Emirati heritage and support the country’s participation in international forums, including registration files on UNESCO lists.

Regarding the challenges facing building an integrated knowledge society, Al-Maamari explained that ease of access to information in the digital age does not necessarily mean the quality of knowledge, noting that the most prominent challenges lie in the spread of false information, which requires directing new generations towards distinguishing between true and misleading knowledge, especially that related to national identity and local culture.

For his part, Fahd Ali Al-Maamari said that the UAE, since its establishment, has believed that compulsory education is the cornerstone for building a prosperous knowledge society, noting that library science constitutes a major axis in building an organized information society.

He called for investing in training librarians and developing their skills in documenting, preserving and providing information, stressing that the librarian is not only a technical employee but also one with a knowledge mission that contributes to enabling society to access sources of science and culture.

He explained that the Emirates Library and Information Association organized more than 600 specialized workshops during the current year with the participation of more than a thousand experts and a thousand public and private libraries, with the aim of promoting the culture of reading and information and building a sustainable knowledge society.

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