Sharjah 24: As part of its ongoing mission to promote reading as a daily habit and attract new readership, Sharjah Public Libraries (SPL) will present a comprehensive cultural agenda at its pavilion in Hall 4 at the upcoming 44th Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF), running from November 5 to 16 at Expo Centre Sharjah under the theme “Between You and a Book”.
SPL’s agenda includes “Authors under the spotlight”, which features prominent Arab writers and gives audiences insight into their creative journeys. This is followed by “Behind the scenes”, a series of conversations with content creators that explores the lesser-known aspects of literary and artistic production. The Book Club provides a space to discuss books and exchange views, with participation from active reading groups. Throughout the fair, SPL will also offer a 50% discount on new membership registrations at its pavilion.
Role of libraries and books in everyday life
Commenting on the programme, Eman Bushalibi, Director of SPL, said the library’s participation is a chance to connect directly with readers and highlight its year-round cultural services. She noted that this year’s activities are designed to place books at the centre of everyday life and reinforce the library’s role as a platform for knowledge, reading, and research across all segments of society.
Authors under the spotlight
As part of this series, SPL will host Egyptian poet and writer Iman Mersal in a session titled “Writing as a space of radiance” on Saturday, November 8, at 6 pm, and Kuwaiti novelist Abdulwahab Al Hammadi in a session titled “History through literature” on Thursday, November 13, at 6 pm. Both sessions will explore each writer’s creative development.
Behind the scenes
The Behind the Scenes series includes two sessions that examine the creative process from different angles. Emirati writer and screenwriter Mohammed Hassan Ahmed will lead the first session titled “The art of searching for humanity” on Friday, November 7, at 6 pm, and the second session titled “The Dragon Language: How to read Chinese Literature” by Yara Al Masry on Saturday, November 15, at 6 pm, sharing insights from his work in writing, acting and production.
Book club
The Book club sessions bring together active reading groups to foster open discussion and cultural exchange. The UAE’s Symphony Book Club from the UAE will host Mohammed Al Ansari on Sunday, November 9, at 5 pm, while Kalima Book Club will feature Rawda Al Mansouri on Friday, November 1,4, at 6 pm.
Membership discount
Throughout the 12-day book fair, SPL will offer a 50% discount on adult memberships for visitors who register at its pavilion. The initiative is designed to encourage wider use of the library’s services in reading, research and lifelong learning.
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