Publishing body eyes reading scheme

Sharjah: Officials at the International Publishers Association have expressed their interest in adopting the strategy of Knowledge Without Borders, and to implement it in other foreign countries.

The president of International Publishers Association (IPA), Herman P. Spruijt, visited the stand of Knowledge Without Borders (KWB) during the Sharjah International Book Fair, where he said he would promote the strategy in other countries that want to improve reading in rural areas.

Rashid Al Kous, Manager of Cultural Programmes, KWB, said: "The IPA and Knowledge Without Borders are discussing opportunities to use our project as a case study for countries who are looking to introduce such programmes in order to promote knowledge. We are discussing our strategic level, and how the initiative not only distributes books but also provides cultural programmes for children that make reading more interesting."

Shaikha Budoor Bint Sultan Al Qasimi, President of the Emirates Publishing Association and Chief Executive of Kalimat Publishing House, told Gulf News on Friday that KWB is expected to run until 2012 and will cater up to 42,000 Emirati families within the next two years.

KWB was launched during last year's book fair and distributes a bookcase with 50 books in the Arabic language to Emirati families.

"The biggest challenge will be the city itself because we are currently distributing questionnaires to families to find out what topic of books they are interested in," said Shaikha Budoor, adding that the questionnaires can be collected from the KWB office located at Al Qasba.

"A committee has bet set up specifically for the book fair, which is made up of representatives from universities and the Supreme Council of Family Affairs, among other establishments," she said.

A discussion about the KWB initiative will be at 11am tomorrow at the Cultural Café.

Timeline: Dates the bookcases will be distributed

Al Saja'a: December 9, 2009

Maleha: December 29, 2009

Khor Kalba: April 6, 2010

Margham: April 27, 2010

Dibba Al Hosn: November 16, 2010

Kalba: January 4, 2011

Khor Fakkan: March 29, 2011

Sharjah City: April 10, 2012

Al Hamriya: October 3, 2012.