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Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) has announced the implementation of the Sharjah Libraries Digital Repository Project, which will be the next generation of digital libraries.
As the first of its kind in the Arab world, the project will provide scientific and intellectual content on the Internet with no limitations or obstacles and without prejudice to the intellectual proprietary rights of its respective authors.
This announcement was made during the second joint conference between Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) and the American Library Association (ALA), which concludes today (Thursday) at Sharjah Expo Centre. The event hosted 330 librarians from 18 countries including Arab and international experts, specialists, and other personnel of interest in libraries.
The focus of this project is on preserving the intellectual resources of libraries, including written, audio, and visual content, as well as photos, maps, and other manuscripts. The project also allows for direct integration and reach to the libraries’ database indexes, thus enabling the public to access the resources they need via one website with no need to visit the libraries.
“It is our pleasure to launch the Sharjah Libraries Digital Repository Project,” said H.E. Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Amiri, Chairman of Sharjah Book Authority and Director of Sharjah International Book Fair. “It will be beneficial to wide segments of readers and researchers around the world, as it maintains the content of libraries and allows retrieving this data easily, anytime, anywhere. The project also fosters positive interaction between member libraries and the public.”
Al Amiri said that the Digital Repository allows access to the resources included in the digital repository via surfing through pages or direct search, or both. He also noted that Sharjah aims to be the Arab and regional leader in empowering knowledge access as well as streamlining and facilitating it by overcoming any geographical or technical constraints.
The Digital Repository has helpful features such as video streaming for audio-visual content, reading rare books by providing page turning function, among others. These features further support the realization of the Sharjah Libraries’ vision in digital transformation, allowing for access to scientific and intellectual materials and production, and supporting free access to information for library goers.
Other epistemological resources available on the Digital Repository include the content of the audio-visual section (including video and audio tapes, and disks), rare books available in Sharjah libraries, rare books available in Al Hosn Museum with its bibliographies, manuscripts available in Al Qasimia University, Dr. Sultan Al Qasimi Center of Gulf Studies, as well as Iqra Magazine, Department of Culture and Information’s Al Rafed Magazine, and other publications of the Department.
The Digital Repository content also includes guidebooks and publication lists of Sharjah libraries, annual statistics of Sharjah libraries, literary content of governmental entities in Sharjah Government, public free books, historical materials with outdated legal protection, content originally produced for the public by individuals or entities, in addition to studies and research.
The Sharjah Book Authority was launched in 2014 and is responsible for encouraging investment in creative sectors, in addition to providing an intellectual platform for exchanging knowledge and culture among people and countries. The SBA also aims to develop the printing and publishing sector and support the significant role of writers and their influence in spreading awareness of technological advancements and the availability of various sources of information. The authority assumes the responsibility of enhancing the Emirate’s status on the regional and international level to attract relevant bodies and figures operating in the cultural sector in general, and the publishing, printing, translation, documentation and children’s book sector in particular.
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