Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) has announced the implementation of the Sharjah Libraries Digital Repository Project which will be the next generation of digital libraries.

As the first of its kind in the Arab world the project will provide scientific and intellectual content on the Internet with no limitations or obstacles and without prejudice to the intellectual proprietary rights of its respective authors.

This announcement was made during the second joint conference between Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) and the American Library Association (ALA) which concludes today (Thursday) at Sharjah Expo Centre. The event hosted 330 librarians from 18 countries including Arab and international experts specialists and other personnel of interest in libraries.

The focus of this project is on preserving the intellectual resources of libraries including written audio and visual content as well as photos maps and other manuscripts. The project also allows for direct integration and reach to the libraries' database indexes thus enabling the public to access the resources they need via one website with no need to visit the libraries.

"It is our pleasure to launch the Sharjah Libraries Digital Repository Project" said Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Amiri Chairman of Sharjah Book Authority and Director of Sharjah International Book Fair. "It will be beneficial to wide segments of readers and researchers around the world as it maintains the content of libraries and allows retrieving this data easily anytime anywhere. The project also fosters positive interaction between member libraries and the public."

The Digital Repository has helpful features such as video streaming for audio-visual content reading rare books by providing page turning function among others. These features further support the realization of the Sharjah Libraries' vision in digital transformation allowing for access to scientific and intellectual materials and production and supporting free access to information for library goers.

Other epistemological resources available on the Digital Repository include the content of the audio-visual section (including video and audio tapes and disks) rare books available in Sharjah libraries rare books available in Al Hosn Museum with its bibliographies manuscripts available in Al Qasimia University Dr Sultan Al Qasimi Center of Gulf Studies as well as Iqra Magazine Department of Culture and Information's Al Rafed Magazine and other publications of the Department.

The Digital Repository content also includes guidebooks and publication lists of Sharjah libraries annual statistics of Sharjah libraries literary content of governmental entities in Sharjah Government public free books historical materials with outdated legal protection content originally produced for the public by individuals or entities in addition to studies and research.