Sharjah24: Books and libraries are here to stay despite the overarching influence of the digital world and the emotional connection with physical books cannot be replaced by hand-held devices, agreed three distinguished personalities involved with books and libraries at the 15th edition of the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF) that is taking place in Expo Centre Sharjah.
Moderated by radio presenter Louis Denham, the panel discussion “The Importance of Libraries in Promoting Academic Success” had Sohini Mitra, Penguin Random House India publisher of Children and Young Adult books; Cathy Camper, Arab-American author, librarian and artist; and Flora Majdalawi, Jordan-based author and publisher, all rooting for books and their enduring relevance for children and adults alike.
They vouched that a well-equipped library is essential for scholarly pursuits, providing students and scholars with a vast array of information and cultural resources.
Camper, who has worked for years as a librarian in the US, felt there was a rhythm in turning the pages of a physical book, helping a child to physically interact with a story. “Opening a hard copy is an exciting prospect for a child,” she noted. Though she supported both physical and digital books, she saw a huge burst of online books during Covid-19 and after.
Sohini Mitra agreed reading a vast array of books from different cultures fostered one’s understanding of a different world, widened one’s perspective about life and shaped a wholesome human being. She noted that while public libraries benefit those who cannot afford to buy books it gives each child an agency or an empowerment to choose. “Discoverability will happen only in a physical space like libraries and bookstores,” she observed, while agreeing that books will coexist with technology.
“The world of reading is not going anywhere. For conscientious parents, bonding with children can happen over books and if you want to engage meaningfully at the end of the day, books are a great medium,” she concluded.
Majdalawi agreed that books have a positive relationship with people across the world. Apart from providing academic information, they give values and morals to those who seek knowledge. She pointed out the role of libraries as a social hub, giving the example of a library in Finland situated near the country’s Parliament which provides adequate space for sports, sewing, cooking sessions and so on.
The 15th edition, which runs from May 1-12, has the theme ‘Once Upon a Hero’. The action-packed festival for young readers, artists and creatives as well as their families showcases millions of books including latest releases in children’s and YA literature from across the globe.
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