Sharjah 24: The House of Wisdom (HoW) is actively promoting awareness about optimal sustainability practices and their significance in preserving the environment. This initiative is in sync with the UAE's central theme for 2023 as the “Year of Sustainability,” and mirrors the nation's dedication to the objectives of COP28. The House of Wisdom is showcasing these efforts during their participation at the 42nd Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) held at Expo Centre Sharjah.

Throughout a span of twelve days, HoW will be welcoming SIBF attendees to explore its immersive pavilion, which draws inspiration from the UAE's resolute dedication to sustainability. This pavilion is divided into three distinct sections, with the primary section prominently showcasing HoW's proactive focus on sustainability through its headquarters. Within this section, visitors are able to discover various sustainable practices HoW implements, including recycling, the use of eco-friendly materials such as aluminium and teak wood, as well as a smart water management system that extends to both the building and its surrounding gardens, all aimed at promoting water conservation.

Following this, visitors proceed to the subsequent section, which emphasises the notion of sustainability within the context of Islam. This immersive experience transports visitors on a captivating journey back in time, delving into the concept of protected zones in Makkah that were established as sanctuaries for people, animals, and plants. The final section presents a collection of carefully curated publications encompassing topics related to sustainability, the environment, wildlife, agriculture, and nature reserves, all of which can be found within the HoW library.

Commenting on their participation at this year's book fair, Marwa Al Aqroubi, Executive Director of HoW, said, “The House of Wisdom serves as a source of inspiration for future generations and sets an example for leading cultural centres in adopting environmentally friendly practices. This year's edition of SIBF is an ideal platform for us to raise awareness among readers and visitors about the importance of sustainability. We believe knowledge is central in guiding communities, institutions, and individuals toward sustainable solutions.”

Access to an extensive array of digital resources
As part of its commitment to sustainability, HoW has introduced the ‘New Digital Membership.’ This innovative membership provides access to an extensive array of digital resources, encompassing hundreds of thousands of publications featuring e-books, audiobooks, magazines, theses, and research papers, through 15 comprehensive databases. These resources are all available for convenient access from the comfort of one's home. For those visiting SIBF this year, HoW is offering a special discount on this membership, providing another reason to engage with their pavilion.

To minimise the use of paper, HoW provides the public with an innovative service to print a hard copy from an on-demand database that includes over 7 million books connected to HoW’s Espresso Book Machine!

On the sidelines of SIBF 2023, the HoW is also organising at its headquarters a wide array of activities and workshops for the community members, along with a series of extraordinary cultural and literary sessions as part of the “HoW Talks” programme, led by renown SIBF guests, novelists and writers.