UAE | Heritage and Culture

Love of reading very much alive

We constantly hear that people do not read anymore and that books are only used to decorate shelves in homes or offices.

  • By Fatma Salem, Staff Reporter
  • Published: 01:09 March 8, 2008
  • Gulf News

  • Image Credit: Gulf News Archive
  • Students go to Sharjah Library for their research and to complete their assignments.
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Sharjah: We constantly hear that people do not read anymore and that books are only used to decorate shelves in homes or offices.

But when you visit any public library, you notice a number of people engrossed in their books or magazines. Then there are people who prefer using the World Wide Web to get information quickly.

The Sharjah Library is the largest public library in the Middle East. Shaikha Mona Saqr Al Qasimi is the library administrator and says that about 4,000 to 5,000 people visit the library every month. "They are of various ages and nationalities," she said.

"Students however, have to come here for their assignments and research," she says.

A librarian explains that the atmosphere is busy at certain times of the day. "For instance, in the afternoon from 5pm to 8pm are the peak hours and the weekend is usually busy," said Aisha Rashid Al Fan, an Emirati librarian since 1998.

"We guide the readers and show them how to find books about their interests," she said.

The Sharjah Library's ground floor is divided into two wings. The one on the right contains 10 huge reading halls, each one assigned for a specific field, such as media, arts, Gulf studies, foreign languages, children's education and management.

The left wing contains 10 specialised sections for science, environment and development, poetry, sport, women's education and architecture.

Addicted

"Sharjah Library pays attention to special needs people and offers services in braille. We also regularly hold seminars and training courses and various cultural events throughout the year," said Mona.

But Khalifa Al Shamsi, a 29-year-old Emirati private sector employee, who regularly visits public libraries said, "Whether we admit it or not, there is a lack of reading today. I have been reading since I was 10-years old because both my parents are addicted to reading. "I recall that in my free time they used to take me with them to read. I participated in various TV and newspaper contests. My love of reading made me win many prizes effortlessly. I owe a lot to reading books." Mariam Saeed Al Bahar, a 37-year-old Emirati, urges the Ministry of Education to declare compulsory weekly sessions of reading in public schools to attract students to reading. "Reading enriches our knowledge and expands the way we think," she said.

The role of the family is important, says Manal Ebrahim, a 22-year-old college student.

"Kids imitate those who they are close to and acquire their habits early." But Huda M. Habib, a 31- year-old Emirati believes that a person's interests are relative.

"There are various types of people, some who love the arts and others who love science. Then there are others who are driven to mathematics and analysis. So we simply cannot generalise about the statistics of people reading."

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