Sharjah Public Libraries offer 15 million digital resources
Since its establishment, SPL has prioritised accessibility and the preservation of knowledge. Its collection includes rare manuscripts, books, audiovisual materials, Braille books, tapes, and videos, showcasing an extraordinary heritage serving local and international communities. Today, SPL has embraced advanced technologies, evolving into a global platform with over 15 million digital resources, including e-books, audiobooks, journals, dissertations, and maps in more than 10 languages.
The library's inclusivity shines through its offerings in 40 foreign languages, in addition to the Arabic and English, which meet the needs of a diverse audience of over 117 nationalities.
One of SPL's standout features is its rare manuscripts section, which contains 3,102 unique works and houses 912 ancient books and manuscripts in five languages, including Arabic, English, French, Persian, and German. Among the treasures is a historical copy of the Holy Quran, believed to belong to Caliph Uthman ibn Affan, a replica of a copy preserved in Istanbul's Topkapi Palace Museum. To make these invaluable resources widely accessible, SPL has developed a comprehensive digital database, allowing researchers to access historical manuscripts, books, maps, and documents from anywhere in the world.
Demonstrating its commitment to inclusivity, SPL has taken significant strides to serve visually impaired individuals. A specialised hall has been established, offering Braille books, e-books, and assistive devices that create equal opportunities for learning and exploration. These advancements underscore SPL's mission to ensure that knowledge is a right available to all.
SPL has redefined the library experience with comprehensive digital services, including electronic borrowing, membership registration, payment, and book returns, all designed for ease and efficiency. The introduction of 24/7 services, such as drive-through book returns and smart lockers, ensures that resources are accessible whenever and wherever they are needed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arabian Post
5 days ago
- Arabian Post
Wuhan: Green Foundations for a Hub City
A City Where You Can Feel the Sea WUHAN, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 12 August 2025 – The symposium titled 'Green Foundations for a Hub City' was held in Wuhan on August 6, 2025. It focused on Wuhan's environmental efforts, particularly the integration and conservation of its abundant rivers and lakes. Speedboat on East Lake, like being at sea. Ramsar Convention Deputy Secretary-General Jay Alders, speaking at the symposium, highlighted Wuhan's wetland conservation achievements, calling its integration of 165 rivers and 166 lakes a global benchmark. The event showcased both expert discussions inside the conference hall and vivid scenes outside, such as summer floods turning East Lake's beaches silver and volleyball tournaments by the water, alongside submerged forests at Zhangdu Lake, reflecting the city's deep connection to its watery environment. This setting emphasizes that in Wuhan, preserving wetlands is more than policy—it is part of embracing an oceanic spirit. ADVERTISEMENT Wuhan, a city of rivers and lakes, offers a surprising encounter with the sea—right in the heart of central China. Here, it's easy to sense the vastness of the ocean. Whether it's rivers merging into summer-swollen inland seas, reed-filled wetlands ripping like emerald tides, golden silica beaches evoking coastal shores, or high-rise skylines like waves on the horizon, Wuhan delivers a marine-like expanse that stirs the soul. With 165 rivers and 166 lakes, water covers a full quarter of the city's land area. This aquatic tapestry creates a sense of scale and openness that is rare for an inland urban center. Floating cinema at dusk with city lights. In summer, rising water levels stretch the surfaces of rivers and lakes even wider. When blue skies meet these shimmering waters, Wuhan unveils views rivalling Mediterranean seascapes—particularly at East Lake Beach, where imported sands host volleyball tournaments under coconut palms, and Moonlight Bay, where floating tiki bars serve lychee-coconut cocktails at sunset. For Wuhan locals, 'river-lake-sea' is part of their daily life. Sandy beaches, open-air bathing areas, sailing boats—you'll find all the coastal experiences here, just without the coastline. French traveler Élise Dubois captures the magic: 'Kayaking through Zhangdu Lake's flooded forests—fireflies dancing in jade-green canals—felt like discovering Atlantis in China's heartland.' This is Wuhan's paradox: a metropolis where cranes silhouette against wetland sunsets, and ferry horns sing sailors' lullabies. Come to Wuhan, and feel the sea—in a city shaped by water, deep in China's heartland. Hashtag: #Wuhan The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Sharjah 24
6 days ago
- Sharjah 24
From script to structure: Diwani wins international spotlight
Participation in international art symposium Al Madhloum took part in an international art symposium hosted by Turkey's Gelişim University, where he presented his experience in designing 'Diwani'—the world's first building to integrate Arabic calligraphy with contemporary architecture. A tribute to Sharjah's visionary leadership He dedicated this latest honour to His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, in recognition of His Highness's unwavering support for Sharjah's cultural and artistic initiatives and his leadership in preserving Arab and Islamic heritage. Prestigious exhibition with wide participation The exhibition, held from August 2 to 13 at the Taksim Mosque Culture and Arts Center, featured participation from numerous cultural dignitaries and representatives of major regional organisations, including the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Al-Badr Award (UAE), and the Islamic Center in Kuwait. Calligraphers from 13 countries took part, showcasing over 150 artworks and three large calligraphy panels. The event also included a dedicated pavilion for classical calligraphy masters. Diwani project highlighted as architectural innovation "Diwani - Sharjah" was featured as a standout model of architectural innovation. It has garnered three major awards: Loop Design Awards for Best Contemporary Architectural Design, Vision Architizer Award for Best Contemporary Building Photography, and Best Architectural Residence of the Year 2024, awarded by the Sharjah Department of Planning and Survey Recognitions across the Arab World In addition to international acclaim, the project was recognised by the Cairo International Forum for the Art of Arabic Calligraphy, organised by the Egyptian Ministry of Culture, and the International Conference on Integration of Creativity, Technology, and Innovation, hosted by Mansoura University in Egypt. A new concept: The architecture of letters Commenting on the project's design philosophy, Al Madhloum said, 'The Diwani project embodies the concept of the architecture of letters. It is the first building in the world to be designed in this way, blending Arabic calligraphy with contemporary architecture. The building is made of letters, and the letters themselves become an integral part of the structure.'
Web Release
12-08-2025
- Web Release
AUB Press Hosts Dr. Lina Jammal at the 66th Beirut Arab International Book Fair: 'Indeed I Saw in a Dream: Dream Interpretation Books in Arab Literature'
As part of its participation in the 66th Beirut Arab International Book Fair, AUB Press hosted an enriching panel discussion titled Indeed I Saw in a Dream: Dream Interpretation Books in Arab Literature, which brought together Lebanese scholar Dr. Lina Jammal and Dr. Bilal Orfali to explore the rich tradition of dream interpretation in Arabic literary and scholarly heritage. The event was supported by the Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Chair and organized in collaboration with the Center for Arts and Humanities at the American University of Beirut (AUB). Dr. Lina Jammal, who holds a PhD in Arabic Literature from the American University of Beirut (2021), specializes in the relationship between dreams and architectural space and place in classical Arabic texts. Her academic work stands at the intersection of scholarship and the literary eye. Jammal has previously served as a Research Assistant at New York University Abu Dhabi and is currently Associate Editor of Al Markaz: Journal of Arabic Studies, published by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre and Brill. She has also translated numerous academic works from English into Arabic, further contributing to accessibility and knowledge in the Arab world. In this conversation, Jammal and Orfali revisited the evolution of dream interpretation literature from early Islamic texts to the compilations of the Abbasid period and beyond. The discussion centered around foundational works such as Al-Qadir fi al-Ta?b?r, the most notable surviving Arabic text on dream interpretation, and explored how dreams have functioned as both narrative and epistemological tools throughout centuries of Arab-Islamic thought. Jammal's work approaches dreams not only as historical texts but as living visions, fusing the lens of the rigorous academic with the creative imagination of the writer. In her book, Indeed I Saw in a Dream, she guides her readers through the world of dreams hidden within classical manuscripts and the pages of literary tradition. Through this dialogue, the audience was invited to consider the enduring cultural, religious, and intellectual significance of dreams in shaping perceptions of the unseen, fate, and human consciousness. The session also addressed the challenges modern scholars face in editing, interpreting, and contextualizing these works, which remain deeply embedded in the literary and spiritual imagination of the Arab world. The discussion concluded with an engaging Q&A session, during which the audience directed insightful questions to Lina Jammal. She explained that numerous hadiths affirm the value of dreams, particularly those experienced by righteous individuals and explained their role in healing tangible illnesses. Visit AUB Press on YouTube to watch the full discussion.
