At its booth at Abu Dhabi International Book Fair 2023, the National Library and Archives unveils its projects, publications and electronic services

The National Library and Archives (NLA) unveiled, at its booth at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair 2023, its services, publications, and its most prominent activities and events. It briefed visitors on the Congress of the International Council on Archives, its electronic services, and its most important and latest publications, which provide documented information to researchers and those interested in the history and heritage of the UAE and the Gulf region.
The National Library and Archives invited researchers, interested parties and young people to register and participate in the ICA Congress, the major archival event hosted by Abu Dhabi under the slogan "Enriching Knowledge Societies" from 9-13 October,2023. It pointed to its most prominent and important subthemes, primarily Peace and Tolerance. The second subtheme is Emerging Technologies: Electronic Records and Electronic Solutions. The third subtheme is Sustainable Knowledge, Sustainable Planet: Archives, Records and Climate Change. The fourth subtheme is Trust and Evidence, which are among the NLA’s priorities, while the fifth is Access and Memory, which emphasizes that archive is a right rather than a privilege.
At its booth, the National Library and Archives shed light on the most important electronic services it provides, such as requesting archival materials, national educational packages, diagnosing the status of government archives and the NLA’s publications. They also include requesting destruction of documents of government agencies’ archives, providing technical advice and scientific guidance in oral history and genealogy, organizing exhibitions of historical documents and photos, and publishing books, research and working papers concerned with history and heritage.
The National Library and Archives’ booth dedicated a special corner to sustainability, highlighting the interest of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and the wise leadership that followed in his footsteps in protecting the environment and its resources. It also highlighted the UAE's interest in the agricultural and environmental renaissance and its aspirations to expand the area of vegetation cover since its establishment.
In addition to the historical photographs displayed in the NLA’s booth, which belong to its photo archive, the recent publications confirm the NLA’s interest in preserving and documenting the memory of the nation. The publications which attract those interested in the history and heritage of the UAE, include Zayed from Challenges to Union, Zayed and Heritage, Qasr Al Hosn, Thus Spoke Fatima bint Mubarak, Their memory, Our History, Um Kulthum in Abu Dhabi, Forts and castles in the United Arab Emirates, Memories of the Emirates, and several volumes of the Chronicles of the Sheikhs.