House of Wisdom offers digital treasure trove of knowledge

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

The House of Wisdom (HoW) has reinforced its position as the ideal destination for knowledge-sharing through its pioneering digital library, which empowers researchers, academics, and students with unlimited access to an immense wealth of informational resources. The platform now offers 15 comprehensive databases, housing the most renowned encyclopaedias and an extensive array of digital assets, including books, magazines, scientific studies, research papers, as well as multimedia files.

With the convenience of online accessibility, subscribers can connect to this invaluable repository from any corner of the globe, which enhances the position of Sharjah’s esteemed cultural reputation. HoW’s digital library has customised packages tailoring to the needs and interests of members who can enjoy exclusive access to a diverse and constantly updated collection of e-resources. These invaluable digital tools cater to postgraduate students and academics across various disciplines, as well as students at all levels, enriching their knowledge and skill sets.

Diverse and Vast: HoW's exclusive collection of e-libraries

HoW’s digital library boasts a selection of the most important global e-libraries, featuring diverse content in multiple languages. Notably, the collection includes “Al-Manhal”, with over 100,000 publications in Arabic, covering topics in humanities, social sciences, Islamic studies, and more.

For the young readers, HoW has the delightful “Nahla Wa Nahil” children's books collection, while “Overdrive” grants access to a growing collection of audiobooks, anytime, anywhere.

The extensive digital library also provides access to an incredible selection of ProQuest’s e-libraries which is regarded as a global leader in digital knowledge resources. For those seeking scholarly works, “ProQuest Dissertation” contains the most comprehensive curated collection of multidisciplinary dissertations and theses from around the world, with over 5 million titles.

ProQuest’s “Ebook Central” boasts an unparalleled collection, exceeding 233,000 books and valuable reference materials, while “ProQuest Central,” the largest single periodical resource available, aggregates complete databases from a variety of major subjects.

The HoW’s digital library also includes the “SIRS Discoverer” collection, a multidisciplinary database specifically designed for primary and secondary learners, researchers, and educators. The “Pressreader” collection gives subscribers a gateway to thousands of newspapers and magazines, providing the public an indispensable journalistic trove.

To further enhance their offerings, HoW also offers a “Public Library Video Online” subscription, which houses a comprehensive streaming video database tailored for public libraries.

To discover the full range of databases available, have exclusive access to this myriad of resources, and embark on a journey of intellectual and cultural enrichment, the HoW extends an invitation to all knowledge enthusiasts to register for membership, through the following website: https://houseofwisdom.ae/membership.

Marwa Al Aqroubi, Executive Director of HoW commented on the significance of enriching the knowledge landscape and providing access to resources to their global community, saying: “The digital library offers a wide array of studies spanning various disciplines, granting access to the latest and most critical modern research. By leveraging cutting-edge communication technologies and extensive data, the e-libraries transcend geographical boundaries, enabling users worldwide to access information quickly and effortlessly. The HoW extends a warm welcome to all individuals eager to explore the exceptional world of knowledge resources from around the world, while our unique cultural hub provides the opportunity to engage with a global community of learners and researchers, fostering new horizons of learning and exploration.”

Customised packages for every individual

HoW presents two distinct packages catering to all users' needs. The standard membership, priced at Dhs400 (Dhs320 for students) annually, allows members to borrow up to 12 books at a time for up to 15 days, alongside full access to all e-resources. Moreover, membership holders benefit from exclusive discounts of up to 10% on all programmes, Chie restaurant, gift stores, and meeting pod bookings.

The premium membership, priced at Dhs800 (Dhs640 for students) annually, offers exclusive benefits, including borrowing up to 20 books for 21 days, access to all e-resources, as well as special events and activities. Premium members also enjoy discounts of up to 15% off Al Jazri FabLab rentals and lab booking, 15% off Espresso Book Machine services, 20% off all programmes, 10% off at Chie restaurant, 15% off at gift stores and 10% off on meeting pod bookings.