UAE | Education
Dh3m given to encourage students' reading habit
To encourage students to read, General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, has donated Dh3 million for all students in Abu Dhabi.
- By Shireena Al Nowais, Staff Reporter
- Published: 18:36 March 9, 2008
- March 11 - March 16 open daily from 10am to 9pm
- March 11 is reserved exclusively for trade visitors
- Venue: Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, UAE
- Collective pavilions from France and Germany on show for the first time
- Publishers from India and China will attend for the first time
- ADIBF publishes a bilingual exhibitor catalogue online/in print, thus providing a comprehensive directory of the Arab publishing world
- Extension of the successful 'Discussion Forum' and Abu Dhabi Business Lounge
- 430 exhibitors from 40 countries
- Biggest book shop in the region
- The Textbox: A booth used for literary recital. Headphones will be available for interested visitors, and translations of the recital will be on-screen
- Kitab Sofa: A public venue where authors are interviewed.
Abu Dhabi: To encourage students to read, General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, has donated Dh3 million for all students in Abu Dhabi.
The money aims to encourage and help students to buy books at the 18th Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF) set to open on Tuesday at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.
Speaking on the sidelines of a press conference announcing the launch of the book fair, Juma Al Qubaisi, Director of ADIBF and Director of the National Library at Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (Adach), said: "The money will be distributed among all private and public school pupils and university students. A portion of the Dh3 million will be used to develop their libraries and the remaining amount will be given to the students."
By Wednesday, students will receive Dh50 and Dh100 vouchers to spend at the book fair, he said.
The money will be distributed in cooperation with the Abu Dhabi Education Council.
The number of participants at ADIBF, which will continue until March 16, has risen by 10 per cent and has now reached 450.
"As for ADIBF's floor space, this year we have occupied 25 per cent more space as a result of the many requests from exhibitors who wish to expand their stalls."
There also has been an increase in the number of international publishers, which has reached almost 100 publishing houses from the United States, India, China and several European countries.
Expansion
Mohammad Khalaf Al Mazroui, Director General of Adach, said: "ADIBF's expansion is not limited to the participation of publishers displaying books only. Noticeable improvements have also been introduced in organising exciting events at this year's fair. These include a celebration ceremony for the winners of the second Shaikh Zayed Book Award and the inaugural International Prize for Arabic Fiction (The Arab Booker) on the eve of the opening of ADIBF."
"In addition," he said, "for the first time ever, ADIBF will host the televised Kitab Sofa and The Textbox, which will feature authors reading inside a soundproof box that can be accessed by passers-by through headphones."
Adach's Poetry Academy will have a special wing at ADIBF where the academy's first Nabati poetry compilations and popular literature publications will be displayed.
The Poetry Academy will also organise an exhibition and forum focusing on Nabati poetry scripts and major works, which include researchers and critics from several Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
Common platform
He said: "ADIBF will carry on the Discussion Forum launched last year, which will focus on different topics such as translation, printing, publishing and distribution of books.
"Other intellectual and cultural topics concerning the current Arabic culture will also be featured with the contribution of several of the most important cultural figures from the Arab countries and beyond.
Another cultural initiative announced by Juma Al Qubaisi is the launch of 'Qalam'.
"The project will focus on adopting and supporting the publishing and distribution of local works of literature such as fiction, theatre and poetry.
"Qalam will also work on presenting and marketing Emirati creativity through the most important cultural activities," he said.
Al Qubaisi said: "Adach is currently putting the final touch on the founding of a data base for Arab writers, which will be made available for everyone online. "
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