Libraries are not just repositories of knowledge but the cornerstone of comprehensive growth of Arab societies.

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

The Sharjah Prize for Library Literature Forum, organised by Sharjah Public Library (SPL), called upon libraries and knowledge institutions to harness the potential of artificial intelligence in information acquisition. It underscored the importance of embracing eco-friendly knowledge environments and sustainable practices to reduce energy consumption, minimise paper usage, and optimise resource utilisation.

Additionally, the forum recommended active involvement of library leaders, readers, and researchers in environmental awareness initiatives. It also urged knowledge institutions to cultivate innovative spaces through cutting-edge technologies to enrich teaching and learning experiences while contributing to the attainment of sustainable development goals.

The event garnered significant participation from academics, researchers, and library enthusiasts hailing from across the Arab world. They applauded the research conducted by the award winners during the twenty-third edition, which was themed ‘Teaching, Learning, and Libraries: Strategies for Integration, Empowerment, and Exemplary Practices.’

Sustainability in a cognitive environment

The second day of the forum commenced with a session titled ‘Sustainability in the Cognitive Environment,’ featuring prominent speakers such as Dr. Imad Alsyouf, Director of the Sustainability Office at the University of Sharjah; and Dr. Asma AlNasiri from the Department of Management at the College of Business Administration at the University of Sharjah.

 Eman Bushlaibi, Director of Sharjah Public Library, addresses the gathering.

The discussion was expertly moderated by Dr. Walaa Fouda, Assistant Professor of Media and Mass Communication at The American University in the Emirates. This session delved deep into the concept of sustainability across various academic disciplines, aligning with the theme of the upcoming edition of the award, ‘Transition Towards the Green Knowledge Environment,’ scheduled for 2024.

It underscored the critical importance of establishing collaborative frameworks between institutions, both on a global and local scale, with a primary emphasis on sustainable knowledge practices within the broader context of sustainability. Furthermore, the session explored the pivotal role played by green libraries in reducing their carbon footprint.

UAE Education Policy

During its second session, the forum delved into the award-winning research of Dr. Prof. Dr. Mahmoud Sharif Ahmed Zakaria. His study focused on the integration of concepts related to information institutions and their contribution to education and research within the UAE education policy document, released by the Ministry of Education in 2018.

Education and AI

In the third session, Dr. Nahla Mohamed Moussa's research, which earned second place, shed light on her investigation into how students in the UAE perceive and engage with artificial intelligence tools within academic libraries.

The study encompassed 484 students from various colleges and universities across the United Arab Emirates. The final session highlighted the research of two third-place award winners, Dr. Emad Issa Saleh’s and Dr. Amani Mohamed El-Sayed. They discussed creativity and innovation in Arab school libraries, emphasising their contribution to education and the significance of the library's role in learning.

Developmental role of libraries

Eman Bushulaibi, Director of SPL stated, “We firmly believe that libraries are not just repositories of knowledge but the very cornerstone of comprehensive development for Arab societies. The forum brought together academics, researchers, and enthusiasts from across the region to discuss ways to enhance libraries.

We hope the awarded research and discussions will boost libraries' roles, creating better educational and research environments, fostering innovation, and addressing challenges in the Arab region.” During its first day, the forum tackled key topics like institutional publishing, sustainable knowledge environments, teaching and learning, and libraries through discussion sessions. The event also recognised and celebrated the winners of the twenty-third edition's awards for their exceptional contribution.