ALA official praises partnership with SBA at Library Conference

November 09, 2025 / 6:23 PM

Sharjah 24: Michael Dowling, Director of the Chapter Relations Office and International Relations Office at the American Library Association (ALA), expressed his pride in attending the 12th Sharjah International Library Conference held at Expo Centre Sharjah on November 8-10.

Michael Dowling praised the long-standing partnership with the Sharjah International Book Fair, organised by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), describing them as “wonderful partners who truly understand the importance of libraries and the broader community of education and lifelong learning.”

Continuous growth and collaboration

Dowling noted that each edition of the conference grows stronger, with increasing participation from countries around the world. “Once again, it is a wonderful opportunity for librarians to learn from each other and move forward,” he said, extending his appreciation to the Sharjah Book Authority for its continued support and dedication.

Enhancing the conference year after year

Speaking about the collaboration, Dowling highlighted the productive relationship between ALA and SBA. “We work very well together. They come up with ideas for us, and we put them into practice—and sometimes we bring new ideas to the table too. They are such understanding partners,” he said.

He added that both sides engage in thorough discussions to improve the conference each year. “I can’t say much more than that they are the best partners in terms of libraries,” Dowling concluded.