IN COLLABORATION WITH SHARJAH LIBRARIES AND UAEU, FIRST LIBRARIES FORUM LAUNCHED AT UKF

Coinciding with the ‘World Book and Copyright Day,’ University of Khorfakkan (UKF), organized the first Libraries Forum with the aim of encouraging the younger generations to engage in reading and interest in books, enhancing awareness of their role in advancing intellectual levels, supporting various cultural and creative industries. This was in cooperation with Sharjah Libraries and United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), the forum included dialogue sessions with participation of scholars and researchers in various scientific and cultural fields. In his opening speech, His Excellency Prof. Ahmed Al Shamma'a, Chancellor of University of Khorfakkan, welcomed the attendees and participants, emphasizing the university’s keenness to enhance partnerships with various scientific and cultural institutions in the country and support knowledge and research cooperation for community development. Al-Shamma'a also highlighted the importance of books as the cornerstone of intellectual development and scientific progress throughout the ages, emphasizing the need to intensify efforts to encourage and support researchers and authors and provide a safe creative environment for them in university libraries by securing reliable research sources, facilitating their use, and developing services to meet the needs of students and faculty on campus. The first dialogue session was titled ‘Information Institutions and Knowledge Security,’ by Dr. Emad Abdul Aziz, professional programs and awards officer at Sharjah Libraries. It included participation from Dr. Naima Al-Hosni, Director of Libraries at UAEU, and Iman Boushlibi, Director of Sharjah Libraries Administration. The session discussed the concept of knowledge security, its importance, methods adopted by specialists to achieve it, and its impact on society and development, as well as the responsibility of cultural institutions in providing knowledge security for individuals. The second dialogue session was titled ‘Copyright and Challenges of the Fourth Industrial Revolution,’ moderated by Dr. Khaled Daghani, Acting Dean of the College of Sharia and Law at UKF. Participants included Dr. Mo’tasim Billah Al-Ghreiani, Professor of Private Law at University of the United Arab Emirates, and Dr. Muayyad Ubaydat, Professor of Commercial Law at the University of Khorfakkan. The session addressed the most important laws and regulations concerning the protection of authors’ and researchers’ rights and the key challenges posed by the Fourth Industrial Revolution in the field of authorship and publication, in addition to discussing possible solutions. On the sidelines of the forum, a memorandum of understanding was signed between University of Khorfakkan Libraries and Sharjah Libraries, aiming to cooperate in enhancing and developing services in both libraries, providing appropriate access to all available information sources, supporting experiences that serve the needs of library users, and enhancing scientific and professional development for students and faculty. The forum was attended by Dr. Mahmoud Suleiman, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at the University of Khorfakkan, along with several members of the teaching and administrative staff. The forum concluded with a short introductory video about the rejuvenation of UKF Libraries.”