SIBF 2017 and American Library Association Conference Hosts 300 Participants, 23 Expert Speakers and 26 Activities

Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) in partnership with the American Library Association (ALA) is hosting a dedicated library workshop day and a two-day conference involving more than 300 participants, 26 activities and 23 expert speakers from the USA, Europe, Africa and Gulf region.

The SIBF/ALA Conference, now in its fourth edition, draws on the expertise of librarians and academics from around the world to provide insights into the latest industry practices, programmes, projects and initiatives, from budget management to building better futures for refugees.

The three day event, running from 7 – 9 November, forms an integral part of the 36th edition of SIBF, which features 1,650 publishing houses from 60 countries. More than 1.5 million titles will be on display throughout the fair taking place at Expo Centre Sharjah from 1 – 11 November.

In keeping with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council Ruler of Sharjah, to build strong relationships with book industry leaders around the world, speakers at the conference represent experts from across four continents. Among these are Jim Neal, ALA’s President and University Librarian Emeritus at Columbia University, and Khaled Mohamed Emam Elhalaby, President of the Arab Federation for Libraries and Information.

Jim Neal will provide an inspirational thought provoking start to the conference with ‘Libraries Transform – Libraries Lead – Libraries Fight’, while Emam Elhalaby maps out the regional road ahead with ‘Libraries in the MENA Region Moving Forward: From Tradition to Transformation’.

Other speakers at the conference and presenting the workshops include: Emad Isa Saleh, Professor, Information Science Dept., King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; Marilyn Billings, Scholarly Communication & Special Initiatives Librarian, University of Massachusetts; Karen E. Fisher, Professor, Information School, University of Washington; Wendy Garland, Avery Elementary School, Dedham, Massachusetts; Todd Burleson, Media Specialist, Hubbard Woods Library, Winnetka, Illinois; Rivkah Sass, Library Director, Sacramento Public Library, California; Dr. Mustafa Abdelwahid, Director of Library, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Sheila Seiler, GEMS World Academy, Abu Dhabi; Michelle Plant, JESS Arabian Ranches Secondary, Senior Librarian, Dubai; Shaikha Ali Mohammed Sallaam, Jewereyyah bint Al Harith, UAE.

The list also includes Brittney Johnson, Head of Library Instruction, Munday Library, St. Edward's University, Austin, Texas; Ali Abbas Mahmoud, Librarian, Ministry of Culture and Development, UAE; Tahri Wafa, Chief of Service, Public Libraries of Manouba, Tunisia; Doaa Abdullah, Librarian and information services specialist at The Cultural Center, ESCD, Cairo; Melanie Huggins, Executive Director, Richland Library, Columbia, South Carolina; Wendy Garland, Avery Elementary School, Dedham, Massachusetts; Eric van Lubeek, Vice President, Managing Director, EMEA & APAC, OCLC, Netherlands; Dr. Amany Elsayed, Professor, Library & Information Dept., Helwan University, Cairo; and Eric Resnis, Organizational Effectiveness Coordinator, Miami University Library, Oxford, Ohio.

As well as entrance to the conference and workshops, participants will also be able to network in the informal Librarians’ Lounge that will be open to librarians and educators in the Sharjah Expo Centre throughout the Sharjah International Book Fair.