House of Wisdom (HoW) recently welcomed a distinguished delegation from the Libraries Commission, an affiliate of the Saudi Ministry of Culture, headed by CEO Dr. Abdulrahman Al Asem. The visit aimed to explore the successful model of HoW, a pioneering library in Sharjah that seamlessly blends the concept of a library with a social and cultural hub. This exchange highlights HoW’s innovative approach to library services and its contribution to fostering cultural and intellectual growth.

The Saudi delegation members were received by Marwa Al Aqroubi, HoW Executive Director, who led them on a tour across HoW’s innovative departments and facilities, including the ’Espresso Book Machine’ and the ’Wisdom Vault,’ home to thousands of rare books on art and Islamic history. They also explored the "Chapters of Islamic Art: Carpets" exhibition at the main lobby.

Following the tour, both sides engaged in discussions to explore future collaboration opportunities on various topics. Al Aqroubi highlighted HoW’s cultural initiatives and community activities, including the ’Talents-in-House’ initiative, a series of workshops aimed at discovering and showcasing talented individuals and refining their skills in collaboration with specialised entities in Sharjah.

On the other side, Dr. Al Asem presented the Commission’s initiatives to transform public libraries into vibrant cultural houses, featuring diverse events, cafés, and stores to foster community engagement and cultural exchange. The redefined libraries also offer a range of services, including educational workshops and digital resources, and feature interactive spaces to encourage collaboration, creativity, and brainstorming.

Commenting on the visit, Al Aqroubi said: "We highly value this important visit from the Saudi Libraries Commission, which is responsible for all libraries across the Kingdom, and look forward to the visit initiating ongoing collaboration and cultural exchange between us on various topics. HoW is particularly interested in leveraging the Commission’s initiative to digitise rare heritage manuscripts, offering electronic access to researchers and those concerned with Arab and Islamic heritage. We are also delighted to learn about the Commission’s innovative concept of cultural houses."

Dr. Al Asem expressed his admiration for the HoW experience by saying: "This project reflects Sharjah’s scientific, intellectual, and cultural contributions through its unique model, that seamlessly blends a library into a vibrant social and cultural centre, powered by cutting-edge technologies."