Sharjah Library forms digital link with British Library

Gulf News -- The Sharjah Public Library, a subsidiary of the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), will provide digital access to thousands of rare books and periodicals on Arabic and Islamic culture, which are held at the British Library in London.

The British Library, the world’s second largest library, lists 15,000 Arabic books and manuscripts spanning the 15th to 19th centuries. The collection includes rare editions of the Quran, poetry and prose and works by great Arab and Muslim scientists such as Ibn Al Haytham, Al Razi, Al Farabi and Ibn Al Nafis.

The Sharjah Public Library launched the new service in collaboration with Gale, a provider of library resources, and Cengage, a USA-based company that provides technological and educational services through its various offices around the world.

Sara Al Marzouqi, manager of Sharjah Public Library, said: “We are delighted to offer the new service to our visitors, especially so soon after Sharjah was declared the World Book Capital 2019. This will provide a much wider platform for us to showcase the magnitude of Arabic and Islamic culture through the wealth of books and manuscripts at the British Library that many readers, researchers and students will be able to explore for the first time.”

She added: “Earlier, those who wanted access to the material needed to travel to London to explore the wealth of books at the British Library. This project will save them time, effort and money, and enable them to search and print the books, periodicals and articles in Sharjah,” she added.