Job Discussion Forums

[Tom Le Seelleur]

Hi
Could you tell me what public libraries are available in each of the emirates and what kind of resources they have in terms of books, internet access, childrens sections, facilities etc.. I am doing a research project on the level of reading resources in the UAE.
Thanks
Tom

[kittenkong]

Hm, maybe the reason you aren't getting a reply to this is that nobody knows? There is a very impressive building called a public library in University City, Sharjah. However I think, and I suspect that this would go for any building of that name in the UAE, that it does not function as a public library in the west would. I suspect that very few people visit it. Does it have lending functions, childrens section? I don't know but wouldn't bank on it. If books went out they might never come back, and how would you get them back? Also, the University City one is not the sort of place you'd just call in at as it's not near shops, etc. You'd have to make a special car journey to get there. Generally in the UAE if people want books they buy them. Expats who are attached to universities/college will use the libraries there.

[meteacher]

Although not a public library, I am pretty sure that HCT offer a service where you can actually become a member of their campus libraries. They offer a search facility for books across campus.

[hurricane]

Granted, my information is not entirely up-to-date, but the Cultural Foundation in Abu Dhabi has (had?) a fairly large public library. Their periodical section seemed to be up-to-date and somewhat extensive. Seemed to be a good place for people to study (nice and quiet (compared to ROW)). My suggestion would be to contact a government department or two to ask them these questions, post their replies here and then ask for feedback/comment from the masses.

[Tom Le Seelleur]

Thanks everyone so far: Summary

Abu Dhabi
Cultural Foundation
Daly Community Library

Al Ain
Community Library at AAESS
Al Ain Book Club

Sharjah
Public Library (any personal experience)

RAK ?
Fujera?
Western region?
Dubai?

Apparently, HCT open their libraries for public use - is this limited by age/profession? Can an HCT person confirm or deny - which HCT colleges offer this service - can you borrow coursebooks, DVD's, ELT journals etc.. Can you sit and study/use internet if you are a member?

Please, if you can help with this research many people in the UAE could use facilities they may not have known existed. Thanks
Tom

[helenl]

As I understand you're already in UAE, why not contact your locat HCT campus and ask about their requirements/criteria? I can only speak from asking on behalf of a local banker in one of the northern emirates, that yes, he could join and borrow books from that particular campus and any other campus via intercampus loan.

[kittenkong]

As I understand it, the library at American University of Sharjah allows the public to use it (altho they first have to get past the guards on the gate). However, non-university people cannot join the library and therefore cannot get books etc. out. But they can look at books, periodicals, etc in there, use the computer search facility, etc.

[uaeobserver]

"reading resources" is a fuzzy word, these days.

HCT gives faculty/staff access to FirstSearch Academic (did when I was there). That's a great collection of peer-reviewed material, with full-text retrieval.

I'd imagine that both HCT, ZU, UAEU, AUS, ECAE, and PI all provide comparable capabilities (just to name a few).

If you're talking about real live books ---- I've seen the below research quality collections:

- Emirates Center for Strategic Studies & Research (AUH)
- American University of Sharjah
- Cultural Foundation (AUH)

[Sunburnt Individual]

I read somewhere that Dubai had 7 public libraries, but that might have just been a hallucination.

ZU and some others have decently large libraries, but they are not available to the public. A friend of mine is the wife of a professor there, and she's not even allowed to use it. Only her husband can.