Month of Reading: UAE launches ‘A World Reads’ initiative to enrich libraries – News

It strives to support and enrich school libraries with a diverse collection of books in Arabic and English for children, youth and adults

Mohammed bin Rashid Library (MBRL) launches ‘World Read’ initiative in conjunction with UAE Reading Month

Aiming to spread knowledge, encourage reading and empower schools across the UAE, the ‘A World Reads’ initiative strives to support and enrich school libraries with a diverse collection of books in Arabic and English for children, youth and adults. It will also support students participating in the Arabic Reading Challenge, while enriching and developing library collections across federal and local government departments, as well as private organisations, universities and colleges.

Unique books in Arabic and English as well as books in Braille will be provided to children, young people, adults, people of determination and the visually impaired who are integrated into education and schools. It will also provide free and easy access to various knowledge and information resources available throughout society.

The campaign was launched in partnership with local publishers, special publishing agencies and a number of selected authors and writers to support and enrich school libraries, readers’ clubs, cafes and government departments.

Dr. Mohammed Salem Al Mazrooei, MBRL Foundation Board Member, said: “The ‘A World Reads’ initiative aims to ignite a passion for knowledge in future generations. It will greatly encourage similar community initiatives and volunteers to support such efforts while strengthening the Partnerships between stakeholders and local partners play an important role in realizing this vision.

“Reading and literacy initiatives are critical to individuals improving their quality of life, increasing their intellectual and learning abilities, and enabling them to better communicate and interact with their communities. We must therefore support and encourage such initiatives, recognizing that they serve as building importance of being a major contributor to a well-educated developed society,” he added.

MBRL urges local publishers, relevant public bodies and entities with special publications, authors and other parties to participate in the program by donating and sharing their unused publications and books. The library will distribute books collected under the initiative to visiting school students, participants in various group discussions and events, as well as the school library and local agencies.

As part of the initiative, MBRL will also provide on-demand book requests to other libraries. To access this service, institutions and schools can contact the library via email: worldreads@mbrl.ae.

MBRL supports and promotes reading, research, creativity and entrepreneurship, while providing free access to unique books and intellectual resources across disciplines.