Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, has directed AED 4.5 million to be spent on publications from publishers exhibiting at the 45th Sharjah International Book Fair, with the purchased titles going to public and government libraries across the emirate.
The fair, running from November 4 to 15 at Expo Centre Sharjah under the theme Made of Stories, brings together 3,212 publishers and exhibitors from 126 countries, with more than 1.7 million titles on show spanning science, literature and other disciplines.
Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority, described the grant as an expression of a cultural vision that ties the growth of the publishing industry to wider access to knowledge. The value of books is realised when they reach readers and maintain a presence in libraries, educational institutions and cultural organisations, she said. She added that the grant gives Sharjah’s libraries the chance to renew their collections with titles spanning different cultures, languages and disciplines.
The allocation is consistent with annual support Sheikh Sultan has extended to the fair in previous years, using the event as a mechanism to keep public library collections current. For publishers, it also amounts to direct procurement support at the point of participation.
This year’s edition features more than 1,500 cultural, creative and artistic events, with 106 writers and artists from 25 countries taking part. The Sultanate of Oman joins as a featured participant.
