The visit of "Sharjah Book" included departments, facilities, and scientific and research centers

Arab and Emirati Culture in the US Library of Congress

The initiative aims to empower young people with future skills, and stimulate creativity and innovation among them.

Emirates today

As part of its efforts to introduce Arab and Emirati books to various countries of the world, a delegation from the Sharjah Book Authority visited the Library of Congress - the largest library in the world - with the aim of enhancing opportunities for cultural exchange between Sharjah and the United States of America, and to learn about the library’s experience in managing knowledge resources and archiving manuscripts and science works that It includes, as the oldest American cultural institution, and has succeeded in collecting and categorizing about 170 million subjects in 450 world languages.

The authority’s delegation, headed by Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, Chairman of the Sharjah Book Authority, received Dr. Carla Hayden, head of the library, and a number of directors and officials from various departments and disciplines. The American side gave special explanations during a tour of the main and important sections in the library, while the delegation reviewed The authority included part of the most prominent events and exhibitions it organizes, and introduced the most prominent cultural models of creative movement in the UAE.

The delegation was acquainted with rare collections of references and works, and discussed the library systems used for research, and access to private documents estimated at 171 million documents, including 40 million books in the form of (guidance and documentation), in addition to the largest collection in the world of legal materials, films, maps and musical notes. and others.

Ahmed bin Rakkad Al-Amiri and the accompanying delegation reviewed the most important Islamic and Arabic manuscripts included in the Middle East and Africa Department, as this section contains about 300,000 books in Arabic and other languages.

Al Ameri said: “The Sharjah Book Authority adopts a solid vision towards enhancing the presence of Emirati knowledge and creativity in various countries of the world, while at the same time we are keen to learn about the experiences of the world’s leading cultural institutions, and the Library of Congress is one of the most important global edifices that embraces within its walls an invaluable human history. And it preserves on its shelves the achievements and manifestations of geniuses, writers and thinkers through millions of books and important works.”

Agents and publishers

During his visit to the United States of America, the authority's delegation met with a large group of American publishers and distribution agents, where they discussed the participation of American publishers in the next session of the Sharjah International Book Fair.

300 thousand books in Arabic and other languages.

171 million documents, including 40 million books.

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