Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
Books are moving beyond the shelves in Abu Dhabi, as libraries embrace AI, 24/7 access and reading spaces across the city, where a new generation is reading.
Speaking to Aletihad at the 35th edition of the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, Fatima Al Tamimi, Director of Library Management Department at DCT Abu Dhabi, highlighted how MAKTABA, the Library Management Department within the Culture Sector at DCT Abu Dhabi, is adapting its services to changing reading habits.
“Today, Abu Dhabi libraries are thinking about the book in a different way,” Al Tamimi said. “People are too busy to come and visit the libraries, so we decided we go to the people,” Al Tamimi said.
At the heart of that approach is accessibility, with readers increasingly able to use library resources without having to visit a physical branch.
“Accessibility is the most important part here nowadays,” she said.
“This is why we have the digital library, where we provide e-books and audiobooks. People can search anywhere and everywhere, and at any time.”
Demand for Quiet Study Spaces
DCT Abu Dhabi is also bringing books into public spaces through initiatives such as Books in the City, which Al Tamimi said is helping create regular opportunities for reading and build communities around books.
“Creating this community will make people understand that you do not have to be in a library to read. You can read from anywhere and everywhere,” she said.
For readers who do need a physical place to study or conduct research, participating libraries are also offering approved 24/7 access. Al Tamimi said the idea emerged after libraries identified demand for quiet spaces outside normal operating hours, particularly among students and teachers.
“This initiative came to us when we saw that people want that quiet time at night to work, to use Wi-Fi and to research in a quiet space,” she said.
Users must be over 18 and obtain a special permit to access the service.
Self-service facilities allow them to borrow books even when librarians are not present.
“We have a self-check-in machine, so they can check out books without a librarian to help them,” Al Tamimi said. “Especially the students and teachers love this idea.”
She added that a significant number of people have been signing up for permits to use the service.
Producing and Preserving Knowledge
Alongside expanding access, Abu Dhabi’s libraries are also producing and preserving knowledge. At the book fair, the culture sector and libraries are highlighting four new publications.
“Our participation as a culture pavilion in the book fair is a sign that culture is producing knowledge,” Al Tamimi said.
Among the publications being highlighted are manuscript-related works Mu'jam al-Buldan and Nawadir Al Makhtutat.
According to Al Tamimi, libraries publish around two to three volumes each year.
Artificial intelligence is also becoming part of the effort to make historical material more accessible, particularly manuscripts and rare books that can require specialists to interpret different handwriting styles.
“With AI, we are trying to cope with international practices, especially with reading manuscripts and rare books, where you need a specialist to read different types of handwriting,” she said.
Al Tamimi said the MediaINFO platform incorporates different AI tools to help researchers reach information more easily.
Focus on Teenagers
Teenagers are emerging as a particular focus for Abu Dhabi’s libraries as they seek to encourage reading among a generation spending more time on social media and digital devices.
“Our next step is that we’re working heavily with teenagers because we know that this segment of the community is a bit far away from reading because they’re busy with social media and with devices,” Al Tamimi said.
Rather than seeing technology only as competition for young people’s attention, libraries are exploring how digital tools can be used to encourage them to read.
“What we are thinking about is how we can make digital a way to make this group of kids or teenagers read more,” she said.
The approach will also include taking reading into more informal settings, including cafés, and creating book clubs tailored to younger age groups.
The aim, Al Tamimi said, is to make reading more relevant to their everyday lives by “creating more book clubs for their age and making reading more fun for them”.
The Abu Dhabi International Book Fair commenced on Sunday and will run until September 18 at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi.
