Presenting Key Milestones, Achievements, and Aspirations, Along with Showcasing its Most Notable Publications
The National Library and Archives Participated in the First International Conference on Library and Information Sciences
The National Library and Archives participated in the First International Conference on Library and Information Sciences, organized by Al Wasl University in collaboration with Mohammed bin Rashid Library in Dubai. The participation included a presentation titled “The Role of the National Library and Archives in the Cultural System: Aspirations and Achievements”, which introduced the institution, highlighted its current achievements and future aspirations. Additionally, the participation featured an exhibition showcasing the National Library and Archives’ most notable and recent publications on the sidelines of the conference.
The presentation delivered by Ms. Amal Al Hadrami from the National Library and Archives outlined the key phases of the institution’s evolution, starting from Documents and Research Bureau, followed by the Center for Documentation & Research, the National Center for Documentation and Research, the National Archives, and its current form as the National Library and Archives.
The presentation highlighted the evolution of the National Library following the issuance of Federal Law No. 13 of 2021, which unified the National Archives and the National Library under a single entity and defined the National Library’s competencies. It also outlined key future aspirations, including strategic initiatives and projects, advanced technical and technological solutions, as well as research and consultancy efforts.
The presentation highlighted the National Library’s current achievements, including the establishment of the UAE National ISSN Centre, the development of the Information Portal, the UAE Digital Memory initiative, the enrichment of the library’s collection with rare books, and survey studies on the state of libraries in the UAE, among other accomplishments.
Among the publications of the National Library and Archives presented on the sidelines of the conference were the peer-reviewed scientific journal Liwa, the quarterly Al-Maqta’ magazine, and recently issued books such as History of Emirati-Moroccan Relations and The First Barrel of Wealth. Also showcased were volumes of Their Memory Our History, derived from oral history interviews, several books on Al Dhafra region, and Zayed: Medals and Awards.

The National Library and Archives was keen to attend and participate in the First International Conference on Library and Information Sciences, recognizing the significance of shared goals such as promoting the use of artificial intelligence, reviewing best practices and available resources in the field, enhancing awareness of artificial intelligence and data science technologies, and anticipating the future of library and information science education in the era of artificial intelligence.