Dubai
The region’s first Beach Library has been inaugurated in Dubai to help spread knowledge and culture among beachgoers, it was announced on Saturday.
Dubai Municipality launched “The Beach Library initiative”, which involves opening eight on-beach libraries at Umm Suqeim, Jumeirah 1 and Al Mamzar beach, to mark the conclusion of its activities during the month of reading.
Mohammad Mubarak Al Mutaiwei, Assistant to the Director General of Dubai Municipality for the Communication and Society Sector, inaugurated the first of eight libraries at Umm Suqeim 1, which operates using solar energy and self-lighting systems to conserve energy, in the presence of Eng Alia Al Harmoodi, director of environment department at Dubai Municipality and Mariam Ahmad Bin Fahd, Director of Knowledge Management Department at the municipality.
Commenting on the occasion, Al Harmoodi said “The beach library initiative aims to provide eight on-beach libraries at Al Mamzar Corniche, Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim as these beaches attract thousands of beachgoers throughout the year and that makes them perfect place to highlight the leadership’s vision aiming to promote reading as a national and governmental priority and as an essential development requirement.
She added that the initiative also aims to bring people and books close together and to entertain beach visitors. The beach libraries have been equipped with a selected collection of books covering all knowledge spheres with more than 360 titles and will be easily and for free available for visitors so that they can borrow and read the books comfortably and bring them back to their places when leaving the beach.
The libraries have been also equipped with more than 2000 knowledge sources in both languages (Arabic and English) so that foreign tourists can read about the UAE and its history, leaders, values and traditions, Al Harmoodi noted, adding that children have not been forgotten in these libraries as there are a lot of popular releases that concern children and adults so as to instil the habit of reading in the coming generations with key focus on stories that promote awareness of correct environmental practices.
