A Free Library for Every Family (in Sharjah)
By Chip Rossetti in Publishing Perpectives


SHARJAH, UAE: While many countries would like to encourage a "culture of reading" in their citizens, perhaps no government has taken a more direct role in promoting reading than the United Arab Emirate of Sharjah, through its official initiative known as "Knowledge Without Borders."

Conceived under the auspices of the ruler of Sharjah, H.H. Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, the Knowledge Without Borders program has the ambitious goal of providing 42,000 Sharjah families with individual libraries of fifty books, including a display case to contain them.
(read on ...)


Bonus Material: Knowledge Without Borders' Top Ten Reasons to Read
By Edward Nawotka

In March, Marwan J. Al Sarkal, Deputy Head of the Organizing Committee of Knowledge Without Borders project in the UAE emirate of Sharjah (as described in today's lead article) acknowledged, "Nowadays, we all spend so much time in front of our computer and TV screens that reading is dying as a pastime." He added, "When people stop reading, with it goes language, vocabulary and comprehension skills; and basic skills like spelling and writing diminish. It's clear therefore that reading can do a lot of good for everyone."

Undaunted in his mission to get every family back into the habit of cracking a book, he offered ten reasons to read.
(read on ...)