SBA sponsors hold meet to discuss setting up of Emirates Librarians’ Assn

Sharjah / Emirates Business

The first step towards the establishment of an Emirates Librarians’ Association has been taken with an inaugural meeting held to discuss it in detail. Held at Sharjah Public Library, the meeting followed the call made by Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) in April for setting up of a dedicated librarians’ organisation to promote high quality UAE literary services in keeping with the country’s position as a leading knowledge provider.
Attended by an elite group of librarians, archiving experts and related professionals from across the UAE, as well as representatives of UAE bodies involved in culture, knowledge and library–related research, the meeting discussed the possible ways of setting up the association, as well as outlined its objectives and agreed its mission. The meeting was a forerunner activity in preparation for the submission of a request to official bodies for the necessary licenses to formally establish the association.
“We are delighted with the impressive response to the call that was made for establishing a Librarians’ Association in the UAE. This call was made in line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, to make the emirate of Sharjah an unrivalled destination for professionals and experts involved in library activities, book-related research and all sources of knowledge. The institution of a Librarians’ Association will enable the UAE to play a pivotal role in strengthening the stature of libraries and librarians in both the regional and international arenas,” said HE Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, Chairman of SBA.
Al Ameri added: “We are aiming to establish an official body that will be instrumental in developing library services, will protect the rights of librarians and will provide library staff with practical training. We made the call because of our strong belief in the importance of such an association, considering the major advances that the literary sector in the UAE has achieved in the last few years. The new landscape that we are now witnessing demands a professional organisation for such vital workers in the industry.”
Al Ameri noted that the UAE‘s library sector, which has developed as an independent science in its own right with its own foundations and theories, functions to ease the process of knowledge acquisition. He pointed out that libraries no longer have a narrow focus on books as being the only providers of information and knowledge, but have expanded their role to include more varied sources, such as periodicals, research papers, newsletters and dedicated reports. He emphasised the significant role that libraries play in boosting the development of all sectors of the country.
The SBA Chairman underlined that ensuring the availability of rich and diverse sources of modern information is dependent on collaborative efforts by all professionals and stakeholders in the library sector. This cannot be achieved, he said, without having a dedicated body that brings together all parties involved.
SBA aims through the establishment of the Emirates Librarian Association to develop library services, enhance the efficiency and experiences of library professionals and enable libraries to keep abreast with the latest developments.
Such an association would serve to promote the role of librarians and would provide them with mentoring and hands-on training.