SPL honours Arab researchers and academics

Celebrating 25 years of academic excellence

Now in its silver jubilee year, the award continues to serve as an essential platform for academic exchange and professional development. The 2025 edition is themed “Information Institutions and Cultural and Creative Industries,” highlighting how libraries and information centres support the growth of cultural sectors and contribute to sustainable development.

Exploring AI’s role in library transformation

The forum will bring together experts, academics, and library professionals from across the Arab world to discuss how artificial intelligence is transforming the sector, changing libraries from traditional service providers into dynamic knowledge partners. Sessions will address AI integration, evolving professional roles, and ethical challenges related to automated content.

Honouring innovation and ethical leadership

The opening ceremony will feature awards for leading researchers, followed by keynote sessions on professional development in the AI era. Subsequent discussions will explore libraries’ role in promoting information integrity, the ethical use of AI, and community engagement.

Award categories include “Best Practice in the Field” and “Best Arab Library or Information Institution”. The forum will conclude with key recommendations for the future of library and information management in the region. Over the past 25 years, the Sharjah Award for Library Literature has strengthened the emirate’s reputation as a regional leader in library sciences, nurturing generations of Arab researchers and promoting libraries as pillars of cultural and intellectual growth.