The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi has launched an innovative cultural initiative titled “Books in the City”. This project aims to integrate reading into everyday life by transforming public spaces into interactive literary environments. The initiative seeks to elevate the status of books within the cultural and social landscape, encouraging diverse community members to embrace reading as a lifestyle choice.
Creating Accessible Reading Spaces
As part of its vision, the initiative plans to activate a network of approximately 45 reading locations across the cities of Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. This effort intends to shift the experience of reading from traditional libraries to more accessible settings, including cafes, parks, shopping centres, heritage sites, and healthcare facilities. The aim is to turn the emirate into a vibrant, open library that remains operational throughout the year.
Cultural Activities for All Ages
Books in the City comprises a continuous series of cultural activities and programmes tailored for all age groups. This approach reinforces reading as a daily practice while enhancing the presence of literature in various facets of public life.
Highlighting the “Maw’id” Initiative
One of the standout features of the Books in the City initiative is “Maw’id”. This programme offers a surprising reading experience set within cultural and heritage sites in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. The initiative moves between sites, operating in each location for a duration of ten days to two weeks. Maw’id allows visitors to select a wrapped book without prior knowledge of its title or content, encouraging them to take the book home and discover its contents later.
Through such engaging initiatives, Abu Dhabi aims to foster a deeper connection with literature, making reading an integral part of community life and culture.
