The opening ceremony brought together more than 5,000 leaders and representatives of library, cultural, and knowledge institutions from around the world, including JB Pritzker, Governor of Illinois; Brandon Johnson, Mayor of Chicago; and Sam Helmick, President of the American Library Association.

Sharjah's cultural project, particularly the 'Library for Every Home' initiative, received strong recognition from American librarians and sector specialists, who praised the emirate's success in taking books beyond library shelves and into family homes. The initiative has provided more than 42,000 Emirati families with over 2.1 million books.

Participants also commended Sharjah's contribution to the global cultural landscape, driven by the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and the support and leadership of Her Highness Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of SBA. They described Sharjah's experience in developing libraries, strengthening the publishing sector and advancing reading as an international model for utilising knowledge to support human development.

The Sharjah delegation was spearheaded by H.E. Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of SBA, alongside directors overseeing the Authority's initiatives and projects. The delegation presented Sharjah's leading cultural initiatives focused on knowledge management, expanding access to information and supporting the development of the publishing industry.

An integrated knowledge ecosystem

As part of the opening ceremony, H.E. Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri delivered the keynote address, becoming the first speaker from outside the United States to address the conference opening. His speech presented Sharjah's model of viewing libraries as living institutions, reading as a community-wide project, and access to books as a right that begins at home and extends to schools, universities and public institutions.

Al Ameri said: "Sharjah believes libraries play a vital role in expanding educational opportunities and strengthening communities. As ALA celebrates its 150th anniversary, Sharjah Public Libraries marked its centenary last year, reflecting two milestones that underscore the enduring value of investing in knowledge. Guided by the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, libraries have become a cornerstone of the emirate's cultural and educational project through a network of six public libraries and the 'Library for Every Home' initiative, which has provided more than 42,000 Emirati families with over 2.1 million books."

He added: "Under the leadership of Her Highness Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of SBA, Sharjah continues to strengthen its status as a global hub for knowledge exchange and international cultural cooperation. The Sharjah International Library Conference, which welcomed more than 400 professionals from over 30 countries last year, reflects the strength of our partnership with ALA, as it is the only conference held outside the United States. It connects East and West, creating new opportunities for collaboration, knowledge exchange and the advancement of libraries worldwide."

Extensive meetings

The SBA delegation held bilateral meetings with publishers, librarians, representatives of knowledge institutions and strategic partners to explore opportunities for collaboration across the publishing and library sectors. Discussions focused on knowledge exchange, professional and technical expertise, and partnerships to strengthen the global reach of Arabic content by connecting Sharjah's initiatives with international library networks and cultural institutions.

The meetings also gave the delegation insight into the priorities of participating organisations. They identified opportunities for future collaboration, including stronger links between publishers and libraries and improved services for readers and professionals.

Showcasing Sharjah's initiatives

The SBA pavilion served as a hub for welcoming delegates, hosting meetings, and showcasing Sharjah's cultural ecosystem and the Authority's publishing and library development initiatives.

It highlighted the Arab Bookverse platform and its role in expanding the digital reach of Arabic content, as well as SPL's knowledge and community programmes and other initiatives linking books with technology, education and research.

The pavilion also showcased SBA's efforts to strengthen Sharjah's presence in the global publishing industry by bringing together publishers, librarians and experts to exchange expertise and address challenges in knowledge production and distribution.

Invitation to Sharjah

During the conference, SBA invited librarians, sector specialists and participating institutions to attend the Sharjah International Library Conference this November, explore its professional programme and contribute to discussions on the future of libraries, their services and their role in supporting learning, research and community engagement.