Dubai: Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), the Emirate’s dedicated entity for culture, arts and heritage, has announced the launch of ‘Reading Worker’ — a new Dubai Public Library awareness initiative that highlights the importance of reading and particularly aims to benefit workers who do not speak Arabic.
Through the initiative, Dubai Public Library will engage with workers by distributing books for non-Arabic speakers at the Waste Management Department of Dubai Municipality. The activity is being managed collaboratively by Dubai Municipality and Dubai Public Library to spread positive reading habits and strengthen the concept of giving among the community.
Fahd Al Mamari, Director of Dubai Public Library at Dubai Culture, commented: “By distributing books among non-Arabic speaking workers, we are continuing to support both the annual National Reading Month in March and the wider UAE National Strategy for Reading 2016-2026. Our objective is to make reading a fundamental part of the community’s lifestyle, and to instil positive reading habits among all citizens and residents. The initiative also reflects our commitment to supporting the UAE’s Year of Giving 2017, as it works to the betterment of our community and gives back in a meaningful way by sharing the joy of literature.”
The initiative has been launched during the UAE National Reading Month in March, which Dubai Public Library supports with a range of initiatives including the ‘Reading Box’, and by creating e-book platforms in collaboration with organisations like Dubai Airports, Awqaf & Minors Affairs Foundation, and The Family Village. These combined efforts highlight Dubai Culture’s commitment to the over-arching Dubai Plan 2021.
The Dubai Public Library network includes eight libraries for adults and another seven for children. Some branches feature multi-purpose halls, classrooms and exhibition spaces, and all branches of the Dubai Public Library are connected via computer systems. This has established close links with other modern libraries, providing access to vast sources of information on a diversity of topics in both Arabic and English.
