Gulf Today, Staff Reporter
His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, directed the allocation of Dhs2.5 million to supply Sharjah’s public and government libraries with the latest publications from Arab and international publishers participating in the 16th edition of the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival.
This initiative is a continuation of His Highness’s approach to strengthening the role of libraries as vital centres for knowledge creation and skill development.
It also reflects his belief in the importance of supporting the publishing sector, empowering publishers, and broadening the horizons of new generations by providing them with a wide range of modern learning and reading resources.
Sheikha Bodour Bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), stated: "The initiative of His Highness is an investment in human development and knowledge enhancement. It is more than just support for Sharjah’s libraries; it is a catalyst for the global publishing sector, particularly in the Arab world, helping to solidify the work of this vital sector and ensure its sustainability.”
She added: “His Highness’s grant also supports readers and provides an opportunity for new generations to explore, question, and innovate. Today, thanks to His Highness’s vision, Sharjah continues to transform libraries into platforms for knowledge, dialogue, and creativity. It reinforces the idea that the path to progress starts with the pages of a book and an idea planted in the mind of a child or young person seeking their future.”
The grant from His Highness continues to enrich Sharjah’s public and government libraries with diverse content covering various sciences, literature, and works published in multiple languages. Annually, thousands of new titles are added to the libraries’ collections, strengthening Sharjah’s position as a city that supports knowledge and plays a significant role in revitalising scientific research, authorship, and cultural production, Sheikha Bodour added.