The Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) and the American Library Association (ALA) have partnered to host the inaugural ALA Sharjah School Librarians Conference, to be held April 15–16, at Expo Centre Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. The two-day event will focus on professional development for school librarians and library administrators. The conference program will include programming addressing current trends in library management, along with networking opportunities and exhibition space for industry vendors.
One key programming component, organizers said, is a comprehensive workshop produced in partnership with the American Association of School Librarians and the Emirate Library and Information Association. The workshop will feature librarians from the United States and other countries, together with industry leaders and school librarians from the United Arab Emirates, and aims, per the organizers, to equip participants with strategies for promoting sustained reading habits among students, enhancing engagement through programming, and creating integrated learning environments.
“School librarians are highly important for educational equity, and this conference will amplify their voices and provide actionable frameworks to ensure every student has access to resources that ignite curiosity and lifelong learning,” said Ahmed Al Ameri, CEO of SBA, in a statement. Mansoor Al Hassani, director of publishing services at SBA, added that the conference “represents a step in the ongoing efforts of SBA to develop the library ecosystem in Sharjah and the wider region.”
