SHARJAH: Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF 2020) opened with several on-ground and online events. UAE’s love for books and culture was reaffirmed with the beginning of the 39th edition of the annual cultural celebration this morning. The 11-day event will conclude on 14th November.
Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) organizes the SIBF 2020 under the theme ‘The World Reads from Sharjah’. Over one million books showcased by 1,024 publishers from 73 nations to exhibit at the fair at the Sharjah Expo Centre.
SBA Chairman, HE Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri assured that the top priority will be the health and safety of all participants and visitors. All preventive measures that meet the highest safety standards are adopted by SBA in collaboration with relevant entities across the emirate. He also said that SIBF 2020 is a special reinforcement of Sharjah’s commitment to promoting knowledge and culture in the UAE. It will always remain at the heart of the emirate’s efforts to achieve comprehensive and equitable development, under the guidance of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah.
To avail access, Expo visitors must pre-book fixed 3-hour (renewable) visitation slots at registration.sibf.com. Colored bracelets will be provided that monitor their visits. Halls and publisher stalls at the fair will be sanitised and disinfected daily.
The cultural programme of SIBF 2020 begun on the ‘Sharjah Reads’ virtual platform. It comprises 64 discussions with 60 renowned authors, intellectuals, poets, politicians, and artists from 19 countries. Registrations for the discussions and workshops can be done on sharjahreads.com.
SBA has, for the first time, partnered with embassies of various countries in the UAE to design eight intellectual discussions. SBA is also collaborating with the UAE’s Ministry of Education to host virtual meetings between students and their favorite authors and cultural figures.
SBA has also announced a comprehensive schedule of social media workshops catering to all age groups highlighting the importance of social media tools and digital technologies to facilitate life, schooling, and business in the post-pandemic era.
The 7th edition of the Sharjah International Library Conference in collaboration with the American Library Association (ALA) will take place from November 10 – 12. The conference brings together library professionals from around the world to discuss and debate key topics under the theme, ‘Challenges faced by librarians and libraries during the New Normal’.
