Sharjah: Al Qasimia University in Sharjah is celebrating Sharjah’s selection as the World Book Capital 2019 by Unesco.
Speaking to Sharjah Government Media Bureau, Dr Rashad Salem, the university’s chancellor, underscored the role played by His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, in honouring scholars and supporting knowledge and education.
Its library boasts more than 150,000 books gifted by Dr Shaikh Sultan.
Dr Salem said: “The entire world has recognised the efforts of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, patron of the educational renaissance and author, publisher and giver of books, by selecting Sharjah as the World Book Capital 2019. This selection, which makes us all immensely proud of the emirate, marks the culmination of a long history of valuing books and realising the benefits of knowledge.”
Al Qasimia University Library had been inaugurated Dr Shaikh Sultan following the formal opening of the university on April 26, 2014.
Dr Khaled Abusen, library affairs officer at the university, said: “The library is home to major references in Islamic Sharia, Arabic language and literature, education, psychology, communication sciences, law and Islamic and general culture, as well as historical books and the full collection of titles written by His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah in history, geography and culture.”
The library offers its services to students from within and outside the university and to researchers from around the world, given that the university itself is international and attends to different cultures and nationalities.
It is home to distinct collections of books and references, including 33,097 titles in Sharia and Islamic sciences, 11,171 in Arabic language sciences, 1,895 in economics and business administration, 6,691 in Islamic history and civilisation, 779 in administration, 4,119 in education, 790 in media and 8,016 in law.
It also holds competitions to summarise books to encourage students to read and improve their summarising skills. The library also organises lectures on general topics, which are given by scholars in various fields.
The library also works to set up a children’s book centre, given that the gift of the Sharjah Ruler comprised a large number of books for children and for students specialising in child education and psychology, which aligns with the emirate’s efforts as a Child Friendly City. Al Qasimia University includes the colleges of Theology and Sharia, Law and Arabic Studies, Islamic Economic and Financial Sciences, Engineering and Islamic Architecture, and Law and Media.
