MAKTABA Unveils Educational And Cultural Agenda For Abu Dhabi Book Fair 2024

At the upcoming Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF) 2024, MAKTABA, the Library Management Department under the Culture Sector of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), is set to present an engaging programme filled with educational and entertaining activities. This initiative aims to cater to a wide audience through morning and evening sessions, encompassing workshops, discussions, cultural challenges, and more.

One of the highlights of ADIBF 2024 will be a special session dedicated to commemorating the illustrious career of the late Shaikha Al Muhairi, who previously served as the Director of the Library Management Department. This session will pay tribute to her significant contributions towards enriching Abu Dhabi's cultural landscape and her relentless efforts in promoting reading across all societal segments.

In addition to celebrating Al Muhairi's legacy, MAKTABA will also recognize the achievements of schools and students through two prestigious awards ceremonies. The first ceremony will honour the winners of the Library Pioneers Competition 2024, which encourages school visits to public libraries in Abu Dhabi. The second ceremony will celebrate outstanding participants in the ninth edition of the Little Writer in the Big Book Competition, held during Expo 2020, aimed at fostering children's literary talents.

Visitors to ADIBF can look forward to a diverse range of activities. Artistic and entertainment workshops will be available alongside sessions specifically designed for people of determination. The fair will also feature dialogue sessions and reading workshops with some of the most renowned writers from the country and beyond. Topics covered in these sessions include the importance of sustainability in achieving a happier society, bibliotherapy's role in mental health, protecting young minds through intellectual security awareness, leveraging technology in creative writing, and cybersecurity best practices.

The ‘Sustaining Knowledge’ dialogue session is particularly noteworthy for its exploration of sustainability's impact on personal well-being and societal prosperity. Meanwhile, the ‘Bibliotherapy’ workshop aims to shed light on how reading can significantly improve mental health. The ‘Youth and Intellectual Security’ workshop is designed to equip young individuals with knowledge on safeguarding their intellectual integrity against external influences. Additionally, ‘Writing in the Age of AI’ offers insights into how artificial intelligence can be harnessed for creative writing pursuits, while ‘What’s Cybersecurity?’ introduces participants to essential online safety practices.

Through its comprehensive programme at ADIBF 2024, MAKTABA not only honours past contributions to Abu Dhabi's cultural sector but also looks forward to nurturing future generations' knowledge and skills. This initiative reflects DCT Abu Dhabi’s commitment to fostering a vibrant cultural ecosystem and promoting literacy across all age groups and societal segments.

With inputs from WAM