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Dubai hopes to strengthen literacy with library initiative

A new initiative has been launched in Dubai to improve education, encourage reading and develop the emirate's literary scene

The Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) is rebranding eight public libraries across Dubai in a bid to highlight them as new hubs for the community that can encourage literacy and learning. 

Large displays of bestselling books will be set up around the city of Dubai as part of the ongoing Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, which is being held alongside the rebranding of the libraries and attracting international authors to the United Arab Emirates.

Dubai Culture, which overseas heritage and arts programmes in the emirate, is also hoping to make it easier for people to use the libraries and their services and expand its online public access catalogue.

By doing so, it hopes to encourage an "intercultural dialogue" with events such as story-telling sessions and book signings.

Saeed Al Nabouda, chief projects officer for Dubai Culture, said that the new brand identity and development plan for Dubai's public libraries reflects its vision to encourage the pursuit of knowledge.

"At a basic level, the initiatives are aimed at strengthening reading habits among the public and creating a culture of knowledge and learning," he said.

"From a wider community perspective, the libraries are expected to enhance the literary scene of Dubai and provide people with opportunities for self-development."

Dubai public libraries boast a repository of texts in a number of languages from around the world, as well as reference materials, audio-visual materials such as films and CDs and research databases.

They also provide access to Oxford Islamic Studies Online, a resource which allows students, community groups and scholars to gain insight into Islam through literary resources.

Dubai Public Library was established in 1963 and has expanded across the emirate in the years that followed. Membership is available to all residents of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and nationals from the Gulf Coast Countries.

March has been a literary month for the UAE, with the Abu Dhabi Book Fair taking place last week and being hailed by organisers as an unmitigated success.

Hundreds of publishers from around the world were in attendance at the event, showing off a range of different titles.