UAE: Make the most of summer with a few great books – News

Attend a summer reading camp, review a book or relax in the library – this country is full of opportunities for a generation of readers

Often, people complain about how things slow down in the summer. If you like books, we will say. Because, summer is when many of us, children and adults alike, spend time reading. Yes, summer is a time to stop and take the time to read a few good books. The numbers show that we are doing a good job of this.

Since opening in June 2022, the Mohammed bin Rashid Library has attracted more than 40,000 visitors from various age groups and nationalities. During that time, they issued more than 34,000 tickets to visit, and their avant-garde auto store received approximately 1,000 member requests for books.

The numbers say a lot, and coupled with the multiple initiatives being launched by government authorities and various other agencies, it really shows that the country is reading. Here’s what you can do to make the most of summer.

must pass, library

“We firmly believe in the importance of providing free access to library resources for all and supporting cultural development in Dubai, so the Mohammed bin Rashid Library welcomes visitors from different interests, cultural and ethnic backgrounds and age groups,” said Mohammed Salem Dr. Al Mazrouei, Board Member of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Library. Once inside, you can spend time in its various sections, including the Periodicals Library, Children’s Library, Youth Library, Emirates Library, General Library, Media and Arts Library, Business Library, and Maps and Atlases Library.

The Children’s Library contains over 25,000 titles, including storybooks, reference books, encyclopedias, early learning books, and blackboard books for preschoolers and first graders. In addition, the General Library is one of the largest departments with over 29,000 books on different topics, suitable for different interests such as languages, history, geography, philosophy, health, sports, self-development and literature, including fiction and short stories, Available in Arabic and English.

Second-hand book fairs from as low as Dh2 Just last week, Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) launched the inaugural Hatta Second-hand Book Fair as part of the Dubai Public Library (DPL) Summer Camp, which took place on 31 July kicked off and will run until August 28th. As part of this year’s programme, the summer camp (for children aged 5 to 15) includes activities such as drawing and creative workshops with Emirati artist Aisha Alhamrani, and art travel workshops that will take participants to explore works of art on the journey, such as the Temple of Dandur and Maman sculptures, as well as other great works of contemporary art.

The program also includes workshops for children to learn the art of writing; making and decorating rugs by weaving cloth blocks; making a table out of wood; arranging flowers; making candles, perfumes and soaps; A variety of second-hand books, including Arabic novels, religious books, and books on law, poetry, medicine, education, technology, finance, history, and more. The nominal price is between Dh2 and Dh10. The camp also hosted interactive reading sessions with writers Badriya Al Shamsi, Noura Khoury, Nadia Al Najjar, Wafa Al Shamsi and Afra Mahmoud.

Celebrating Cultural Diversity

As part of the ongoing Summer Camp 2022: Around the World at the House of Wisdom in Sharjah, young explorers (for children aged 5-12) can get acquainted with the culture and geography of different countries such as UAE, Japan, Jordan, India, China and the Philippines. Unique educational experiences celebrate cultural diversity and foster an appreciation for unique traditions and practices from around the globe.

Armed with passports and boarding passes, participants can gain insight into the customs, languages, food, geography, flora and fauna and landmarks of 16 selected destinations. Little Reader is a dedicated space here for children to read and learn, eager to ignite young minds during breaks through a vibrant mix of storytelling, workshops and global travel.

read a book and go to an exciting destination

Rewayat, an imprint of the Kalimat Group that publishes translations and Arabic literature for adults, encourages readers to read books over the holidays with the launch of the Sayfak Rewaya Summer Reading Campaign, which will take six lucky book lovers to six exciting destinations . Hosted in partnership with Emirates, the event offers participants the opportunity to review books by six select authors whose titles are part of Rewayat.

The event, which runs through mid-September, is designed to encourage community members to use their summer time to read and learn. Participants can submit comments on selected titles and post them on social media platforms as video comments on selected titles. The six winners will each receive two tickets based on their votes including Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o’s Weep not Child, Adam Zagajewski’s Poem, Burhan Sönmez’s Labyrinth, Hjalmar Soderberg’s Doctor Glas, Henry Cole’s Orphic Paris, and If Bill Street can speak to James Baldwin. The event is in line with Sharjah and the UAE’s vision to foster a culture of reading among community members and expand their knowledge.