The launch of the 12th session of the Sharjah International Library Conference

Sharjah, 9 November / WAM / The 12th session of the Sharjah International Library Conference, organized by the Sharjah Book Authority in cooperation with the American Library Association, began today in conjunction with the activities of the 44th session of the Sharjah International Book Fair at the Expo Center in Sharjah, in the presence of 400 specialists, including academics, researchers and librarians from 30 countries from around the world.

The opening was attended by His Excellency Ahmed bin Rakad Al Ameri, CEO of the Sharjah Book Authority, Dr. Maria McCauley, President-elect of the American Library Association, Director of the Cambridge Public Libraries, Michael Dowling, Director of the Office of International Relations at the American Library Association, and Dr. Sandy Hirsch, Vice Dean for Academic Affairs at the School of Information, Data and Society at San Jose State University in California, along with an elite group of librarians, experts and specialists in the library sector from around the world.

The conference discusses a set of main topics that anticipate the future of libraries in the digital age, and examines their growing role in supporting digital transformation, and building knowledge policies and legislation that ensure fair access to information.

The conference highlights the position of libraries as centers of innovation and lifelong learning, and engines of sustainable community development.

His Excellency Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri stressed the importance of organizing the conference in partnership with the American Library Association for the twelfth year in a row after it became a role model for international cooperation in developing the library sector. He pointed out that this partnership constituted a milestone in the conference’s journey and contributed to consolidating Sharjah’s position as a global center for dialogue about the future of libraries, education and culture.

Al Ameri said that His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, when he established the cultural and civilizational project for Sharjah, laid libraries as a foundation and key to advancement, and a path to reach aspirations and ambitions. And here we are this year celebrating the hundredth anniversary of the establishment of Sharjah Public Libraries, and we look at them with pride, as their branches everywhere in Sharjah have become part of the lives of the people of the emirate and its residents.

Dr. Maria Macauley emphasized that the value of libraries is not limited to the scientific and cognitive aspect only, but also extends to psychological and medical dimensions, explaining that the book was and still is a refuge for many patients, and contributed to the recovery of some of them from serious diseases.

She cited the story of the patient, “Julie,” who found books as a companion and supporter during her cancer treatment journey.

For his part, Michael Dowling expressed his thanks to the sponsors who contributed to the success of this year’s session, praising the efforts of the Emirates Library and Information Association in translating a number of American Library Association books into the Arabic language with the support of the Sharjah Book Authority.

For her part, Dr. Sandy Hirsch pointed out in the session “Libraries in 2035: Opportunities, Challenges, and the Path to the Future” the importance of learning from the challenges of the past decade, especially the transformations imposed by the pandemic and developments in artificial intelligence, stressing the necessity of aligning library services with the needs of changing societies, and enhancing their role as information and support centers during crises.

The first day of the Sharjah International Library Conference witnessed a series of specialized sessions that addressed the future of libraries in light of digital transformation.

Marcela Isoster, from McGill University in Canada, discussed “Beyond Data Informatics: Building Inclusive and Collaborative Data Communities.”

Hamad Al-Humairi, Director of the Research and Knowledge Services Department at the National Archives, presented a paper entitled “Emerging Technologies and Innovations.”

Nadine Ashkar, Director of Global Education Libraries in the Middle East and Africa region at Overdrive, spoke in a session entitled “Your Digital Library: Electronic and Audio Books for Everyone,” and Reem Trabelsi, Director of the Library of the Faculty of Science in Sfax in Tunisia, discussed the experience of transforming the university library into a modern learning environment in her session “From Dream to Achievement.”

Trevor Watkins, Librarian at George Mason University in Virginia in the United States, spoke on the topic “Creating an AI Community of Practice.”

The twelfth session of the Sharjah International Library Conference began with a proactive day dedicated to organizing a number of specialized workshops that focused on developing the skills of workers in the library sector and enhancing their readiness for the future of knowledge.

The workshops focused on developing the skills of workers in the library sector and enhancing their readiness for the future of knowledge, in addition to talking about the role of librarians as teachers and mentors in promoting information culture, and included practical applications for using artificial intelligence in public, academic, and school libraries.

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