The 35th Conference of the Arab Federation for Libraries and Information commenced on Tuesday at the Grand Millennium Hotel in Muscat under the theme "Libraries and Arab Archives Institutions and Their Role in Enhancing Identity and Digital Citizenship."
The conference is jointly organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Youth and Sultan Qaboos University and is sponsored by Dr. Fahd bin A -Jalandi Al Said, President of Sultan Qaboos University.
The conference aims to explore the role of libraries and archive institutions in enhancing identity and digital citizenship, focusing on key topics that discuss digital citizenship, identity, and the challenges associated with using artificial intelligence. Over 100 speakers from various Arab and international countries are participating. A total of 54 research papers will be presented over three days, including workshops and discussion sessions with experts and academics.
The conference was inaugurated by Ahmed Al Rawahi, Assistant Director General for Knowledge and Cultural Development at the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Youth. He highlighted that this event represents a unique opportunity to bring together experts in libraries and information from across the Arab world. He expressed Oman’s pride in hosting the conference for the first time and reiterated its commitment to supporting the library sector and promoting the spread of culture and knowledge in the Arab community.
Al Rawahi emphasized that libraries today have transcended their traditional roles, evolving into centers for continuous learning, community engagement, and technological innovation. He described the conference as a platform for exchanging ideas, discussing challenges, and exploring new avenues for collaboration among Arab institutions.
He added that the conference is taking place at a crucial time, with new challenges and opportunities emerging for libraries and archives, especially in light of the digital transformation. This calls for shared insights on enhancing their role in preserving cultural heritage and strengthening the digital identity for future generations. Al-Rawahi concluded by thanking the participants and organizers, wishing them success and hoping the conference’s outcomes would contribute to advancing Arab libraries and cultural centers.
Nabhan al Harassi, President of the Arab Federation for Libraries and Information and Dean of the College of Arts and Social Sciences at Sultan Qaboos University, highlighted the importance of identity, digital citizenship, and the role of libraries and information institutions in promoting these values. He noted that libraries provide an educational environment that raises awareness of the risks associated with handling information online and the ethics of its use. Al-Harassi mentioned that the conference brings together more than 100 researchers and experts in libraries, information, and archiving to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing information institutions. He also announced that the federation received an official response from Qatar to host the 36th conference, under the sponsorship of the Qatari government, represented by Qatar National Library.
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