Sharjah:H.H. Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, has announced an allocation of AED4.5 million to acquire the latest publications from the 45th Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) to enhance the collections of public and government libraries in the emirate.
According to Wam, the book fair, scheduled from November 4 to 15 at Expo Centre Sharjah, will host 3,212 publishers and exhibitors from 126 countries, presenting over 1.7 million titles in various fields such as science and literature.
The funding initiative demonstrates H.H.'s ongoing support for the publishing industry, aiming to promote its growth and enrich library collections with a diverse range of new titles. This effort will expand knowledge access for readers, researchers, and students, reinforcing libraries' roles in community service.
The initiative aligns with H.H.'s vision of prioritizing books and libraries in Sharjah's cultural development and investing in knowledge as a tool for personal and community development. It also supports writing, translation, and publishing, ensuring access to a continually updated range of knowledge resources.
H.H. Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority, emphasized that the grant underscores a comprehensive cultural vision linking the publishing industry's growth with improved knowledge access. She highlighted that books' true value is achieved when they are accessible to readers and available in libraries, educational institutions, and cultural organizations.
The grant provides direct support to publishers and allows Sharjah's libraries to refresh their collections with publications from various cultures, languages, and disciplines, thereby fostering knowledge-based communities and supporting the emirate's cultural development initiatives.
Under the theme 'Made of Stories', the 45th Sharjah International Book Fair will feature more than 1,500 cultural, creative, and artistic events, with participation from 106 writers and artists from 25 countries. The inclusion of the Sultanate of Oman further enhances the fair's role as a platform for cultural exchange and interaction among publishers, creative professionals, and readers worldwide.