The municipality of Sharjah is celebrating the silver jubilee of its public libraries this year, which act as a model for the library world and manage an expanded source of knowledge for intellectual and research institutions in the region and worldwide. Currently, the libraries have a unique collection, which is reflected in more than 791,328 different sources of knowledge, including books and rare manuscripts, audio and video materials, sound books, making them one of the outstanding cultural centers of the region.
In the digital age, the Sharjah Library has become a comprehensive platform for electronic resources, providing visitors access to more than 15 million electronic resources, including e-books and audiobooks, articles, journals, dissertations, maps in more than 10 languages. Moreover, there are materials in 40 foreign languages, including Arabic and English, demonstrating the library's commitment to serve a diverse community, including more than 117 nationalities.
The Sharjah Library pays great attention to manuscripts and rare books, establishing a division that includes 3,102 classified sources, including 912 of the oldest books and manuscripts, written in five languages: Arabic, English, French, Persian, and German. Among these treasures, there is a copy of the Quran, inscribed by the caliph Osman ibn Affan, possessing the same characteristics as the one preserved in the Topkapi Museum in Istanbul, Turkey. In addition, the library launched an integrated database, including manuscripts, books, documents, and rare historical maps, ensuring researchers' access to this knowledge from any point in the world and at any time.
This summer, the Sharjah Libraries' education is a historical turning point, confirming the emirate's obligation to develop its cultural and educational services for all. In this context, a special hall was created for the blind, equipped with Braille books, e-books, and special devices, providing this group equal opportunities for education and reading. Additionally, a digital library of the Sharjah Libraries was enhanced and provided an electronic rental system, ensuring the preservation of rare books and audiovisual materials and their presentation to future generations.
The Sharjah Libraries follow rapid technological development, embracing electronic rental, reading, and electronic translation of audio and video materials, which ensures the accessibility of resources to the public from any place at any time. Moreover, all services have become available online, also providing round-the-clock services, such as book returns via machines and smart shelves for rentals, to satisfy the diverse needs of users.
Through its services, Sharjah Libraries reinforce their central role in creating a knowledge society, striving to be a model for public libraries and continuing to realize their mission in providing a supportive environment for creativity and innovations, satisfying the needs of learners of all categories and ages, as well as contributing to the development of a more informed and prepared society.
