Before thousands of leaders and representatives of library, cultural, and knowledge institutions at the American Library Association conference in Chicago, Sharjah Public Libraries presented its experience spanning more than 100 years of making the public library an everyday space for learning, community engagement, and knowledge access for all segments of society.
During the conference, Iman Bushlaibi, Director of Sharjah Public Libraries, spoke at an international session titled "Libraries and Book Fairs: Building a Reading Culture in the United Arab Emirates", in which she outlined how programmes, services, and partnerships contribute to strengthening the community's relationship with books and connecting the library to the needs of readers across all demographics.
The session explored the cultural context in which the libraries operate, shaped by the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, which has made knowledge and the book a central part of the emirate's cultural and developmental project. It also addressed the shifts taking place in reading habits across the United Arab Emirates, particularly with the growth of digital reading and the evolution of audiobooks.
Bushlaibi offered an overview of the libraries' journey as one of the UAE's oldest knowledge institutions: founded in 1925, they celebrated their centenary in 2025, and their network today comprises 6 branches across various areas of Sharjah, more than 827,000 printed books and references, and approximately 18.9 million digital items in around 40 languages, alongside dedicated services for people with disabilities. Bushlaibi noted that inclusivity forms an essential part of the design of library services. She also addressed the role of partnerships in extending the libraries' presence beyond their branches, through programmes held in museums, cultural centres, clubs, and community venues, in collaboration with cultural, academic, and community institutions.