Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
As summer break is in full swing, libraries across Abu Dhabi are hosting a slew of events targeting students, focusing on entertainment, fun and inspiration.
Taking the lead, the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT-Abu Dhabi) has launched its MAKTABA summer camp, titled “What will I be when I grow up?”, organising a vast array of activities across five libraries in the UAE capital.
Throughout this month, children and teens aged 6-18 can discover diverse career paths, participate in creative workshops, and enjoy interactive programmes, all aspired to enhancing literacy, learning, and creative thinking.
From storytelling sessions and puppet shows to robotics and green energy workshops, the libraries are providing an enriching summer experience.
The five libraries are hosting a total of 28 activities and workshops, including art, educational and entertainment events.
Children and teens have the opportunity to discover diverse professions such as police officer, librarian, entrepreneur, landscaper, filmmaker, fitness trainer, and content creator on YouTube.
The camp also includes a “Leadership in Writing Program” aimed to foster creative expression.
Additionally there are workshops for pottery, greeting cards, stickers, Arduino keypads, and a “Leadership in Drawing Program” focusing on creative drawing techniques, technical skills, and the art of crafting comics.
Moreover, the camp includes the “Leader Within Me” programme, while the “Green Energy” session explores renewable energy usage. The “Robotics” programme teaches programming principles.
The camp also features an anime art exhibition, clubs like the “Youth Book Club” and “Philosophy Club”.
The Zayed Central Library is Al Ain’s largest public library, boasting over 70,000 titles.
It hosts school visits and community programmes, while this summer it is also hosting an Anime Hub.
Khalifa Park Library in Abu Dhabi, one of the MAKTABA library branches, is home to over 50,000 Arabic and English titles, offering a rich academic research resource.
Focusing on children, the library prioritises young readers with a dedicated children’s section, offering 10,000 books, a reading hall, computer corner, and hosting events like storytelling, book signings, and art exhibits.
Located in Abu Dhabi city, Al Bahia Library features 18,385 titles in Arabic and English, and offers specialised journals and audio-visual materials.
Focusing on children and young adult literature, the library provides a diverse book collection and hosts interactive events such as author meet-and-greets, storytimes, creative reading workshops, and puppet shows.
Al Marfa Library in Abu Dhabi holds a total of 20,223 titles, comprising books, references, and collections of Arabic and foreign language periodicals.
It has a young readers’ section with books tailored for children aged five to 12 and hosts a variety of child-friendly activities.
Furthermore, the fifth site of MAKTABA is Al Wathba Library, which offers over 35,000 titles across all specialties in both Arabic and English, and provides services including a children’s section.
In addition to the five libraries of the MAKTABA summer camp, the Abu Dhabi Children’s Library, located at the Cultural Foundation, is a space designed to inspire and entertain children. It offers a diverse collection of books, a play area, and a dedicated exhibition space.
The library also hosts interactive programmes designed at supporting literacy, learning, and creative thinking.
This month, the library features various programmes for children, including the Al Hosn Children’s Summer Camp, Hekaya Workshops, the Eric Carle Program, and books in different languages.
