In a significant boost to the literary scene, His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, has allocated a generous sum of 4.5 million dirhams. This funding is aimed at supplying public and government libraries across the emirate with the latest releases from publishers participating in the 45th Sharjah International Book Fair, which runs until the 15th of this month at the Sharjah Expo Centre. This year’s event features the participation of 3,212 publishers and exhibitors from 126 countries, offering over 1.7 million titles spanning various fields of knowledge, sciences, and literature.
Supporting the Book Industry and Knowledge Accessibility
This initiative extends His Highness’s consistent approach to supporting the book industry and promoting its sustainability. The funding will enrich public and government library collections with modern and diverse titles, thereby broadening access for readers, researchers, and students to essential knowledge resources and enhancing the role of libraries in serving the community.
A Vision for Cultural Development
The initiative reflects His Highness’s vision, which positions books and libraries as cornerstones of Sharjah’s cultural project. It underscores the investment in knowledge as a means of human development and capability enhancement, encouraging the writing, translation, and publishing sectors while providing a dynamic knowledge environment that caters to the interests of different generations.
Emphasising the Importance of Book Accessibility
Her Highness Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority, affirmed that the Ruler’s grant embodies a comprehensive cultural vision that connects the thriving publishing industry with expanded opportunities for knowledge access. She stressed that the true value of a book is realised when it reaches its reader and maintains a presence in libraries and educational and cultural institutions.
Enhancing Libraries and Cultural Exchange
Sheikha Bodour also highlighted that the allocation not only provides direct support to publishers but also offers Sharjah’s libraries an opportunity to refresh their collections with a variety of releases from different cultures, languages, and disciplines. This bolsters the libraries’ role in fostering knowledge communities and reinforces the emirate’s efforts towards cultural development on multiple levels.
A Platform for Cultural Dialogue
The 45th Sharjah International Book Fair, held under the theme “From the Makers of Stories,” continues to deliver a rich cultural, creative, and artistic programme with over 1,500 events. It features participation from 106 writers and artists across 25 countries, alongside the Sultanate of Oman as the guest of honour, further establishing the fair as a vital platform for cultural exchange and communication among publishers, creators, and readers worldwide.
Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi:
• The allocation represents direct support for publishers while also allowing Sharjah’s libraries the opportunity to renew their collections with diverse releases.