Dubai: The Mohammed Bin Rashid Library (MBRL) has announced that it will host the first Dubai International Library Conference 2024 from 15 to 17 November.
The event, themed “Our Libraries, Past, Present, and Future,” will feature over 60 speakers from more than 25 countries and is one of the most prestigious in the Middle East and North Africa region.
Three members of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Library Foundation’s Board of Directors—Isobel Abulhoul, Ibrahim Al Hashmi, and Jamal Al Shehhi—are on the Supreme Committee of the Dubai International Library Conference 2024.
Isobel Abulhoul said that, “The conference will be a vitally important opportunity for delegates and speakers to meet in person at this iconic library to discuss the most pressing issues facing libraries worldwide. The entire world, including the MENA region, must keep pace with the challenges of the digital age, and be a bridge between generations, combining the wisdom of the ancient past, the renewed vigor of the present, and the promising and, at times uncertain, future.”
“At the Mohammed Bin Rashid Library, we strive to adopt the best international practices, and to strengthen partnerships with leading institutions in the world, to contribute to building the global knowledge society, and to come up with recommendations and initiatives that push the wheel of library development forward,” Abulhoul added.
Key Highlights
- Dubai International Library Conference 2024 features over 45 panel discussions, workshops, lectures, and interactive round table talks.
- Topics include preservation and restoration of archives, advancements in library systems, intellectual property, and copyright laws.
- Also covered are artificial intelligence in libraries, sustainability initiatives, and philanthropy’s role in ensuring access to information.
- Emphasizes libraries as cultural hubs and architectural marvels, preserving global histories and knowledge.
- Highlights diverse knowledge offerings from academic, scientific, national, public, and private libraries.
- Draws specialists worldwide to define the future of libraries amidst technological advancements and societal changes.
The Mohammed Bin Rashid Library’s organization of the first edition of the Dubai International Library Conference comes within the framework of its vision to enhance the role of libraries as pivotal centers of knowledge and creativity, in addition to highlighting the regional and global importance of public libraries, supporting innovation and development in this vital sector, and stimulating global dialogue on challenges and opportunities in the future.