Sharjah Libraries showcases 100 years of experience during the American Libraries Conference in Chicago

2026/07/06 7:12:42 PM

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Sharjah, 6 July / WAM / Sharjah Public Libraries presented to thousands of leaders and representatives of library, cultural and knowledge institutions at the American Library Association conference in Chicago, USA, its experience spanning more than 100 years in making the public library a daily space for learning, community interaction and cognitive access for all segments of society.

During the conference, Iman Bushalibi, Director of the Sharjah Public Libraries Department, reviewed in an international session entitled “Libraries and Book Fairs: Building a Culture of Reading in the United Arab Emirates” how programs, services and partnerships contribute to strengthening the community’s relationship with books and linking the library to the needs of readers from different groups.

She shed light on the cultural context within which libraries operate under the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, which made knowledge and books part of the emirate’s cultural and development project, pointing to the transformations witnessed in reading habits in the United Arab Emirates, especially with the growth of digital reading and the development of audiobooks.

It provided an overview of the progress of libraries as one of the oldest knowledge institutions in the Emirates, as it was founded in 1925 and celebrated its centenary in 2025. Today, its network includes 6 branches in various regions of Sharjah, more than 827 thousand books and printed references, and about 18.9 million digital materials in about 40 languages, in addition to services dedicated to people with disabilities.

Bushalibi explained that comprehensiveness constitutes an essential part of designing library services through branches serving different regions of the emirate and knowledge collections available in multiple languages, pointing to the role of partnerships in expanding the presence of libraries outside their branches through programs organized in museums, cultural centres, clubs and community sites in cooperation with cultural, academic and community institutions.

On the sidelines of the conference, the Director of Sharjah Public Libraries held a number of professional meetings and discussions with library federations and associations, as well as organizations and companies specialized in providing library services and solutions. The meetings focused on enhancing cooperation, exchanging experiences, and exploring opportunities for future partnerships in the areas of information services, digital access, program development, and supporting innovation in the library sector.

The participation of Sharjah Public Libraries in the opening session of the American Library Association conference comes as part of Sharjah’s presence as the first participant with a keynote speech from outside the United States of America in the event that extends for more than 150 years.