(MENAFN- Emirates News Agency (WAM))
SHARJAH, 28th June, 2017 (WAM) -- The bestowing of the prestigious "World Book Capital" title for 2019 on Sharjah by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, UNESCO, is a great and worthy honour for the book-loving Emirate, a UAE-based English language daily said in its editorial on Wednesday.
The Gulf Today said that the fact that Sharjah is the first in the GCC and third in the Arab world and Middle East to have received this recognition adds more glitter to the accomplishment, quoting Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Sharjah Media Council, asking "Who deserves it better?"
The editorial contnues, "The Emirate revels in opening a new chapter in the love for the written word every year through its hugely-popular Sharjah International Book Fair, SIBF, and a line of similar events. The selection of Sharjah for the esteemed honour has come after due consideration of its relentless and prodigious efforts to foster a culture of reading among the community. Consider this: Sharjah's annual cultural calendar is packed with programmes and activities. It hosts more than 1,500 publishers from across the world at the SIBF."
"Another premier cultural event is the Sharjah Children's Reading Festival, dedicated to fostering a love of reading among children through innovative and interactive methods. The festival features celebrated international authors, more than 2,000 events and attracts over 300,000 visitors annually," the paper added.
The editorial pointed out that Sharjah has launched crucial initiatives and pilot projects to achieve its vision to promote maximum community involvement in reading. Knowledge without Borders, KwB, is one such example, which established free home libraries for 42,000 Emirati families last year.
"Sheikha Bodour Bint Sultan Al Qasimi, President of the Emirates Publishers Association and Head of Sharjah's World Book Capital Organising Committee, earlier launched the "Kitabi Al Awal", or My First Book, initiative, which aims to develop a love for books and stories among newborns. Under the initiative, 5,000 book hampers were given to expectant mothers across more than 60 healthcare centres and medical clinics in the UAE. It is the duty of every society to promote books in order to fight illiteracy and build sustainable societies, which eventually help strengthen the foundations of peace."
"All the noble activities aimed at creating a reading community and cultivating the love for literature are inspired by the vision of H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. The latest honour by UNESCO reinforces Sharjah's status as a leader among readers," the editorial concluded.
[Image courtesy: Sharjah Tourism]
WAM/Hatem
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