With the aim of reviewing the latest experiences of and mechanisms adopted at major libraries worldwide,
The National Library and Archives reviews the recent mechanisms and practices adopted by the Library of Birmingham
A delegation of the National Library and Archives chaired by H.E. Abdulla Majed Al Ali, Acting Director General of the NLA, visited the Library of Birmingham to review its best practices, policies and strategies, and digital infrastructure due to its special status among major libraries worldwide. The visit made to the UK is aimed to benefit from the advanced experiences and the developed and distinctive mechanisms adopted by the world largest libraries in the UK and to and emulate them at the Emirati national library to be established by the NLA.
During its official visit, the NLA’s delegation met Dawn Beaumont, Head of Library Services and a member at Birmingham City Council. They discussed the characteristics of the largest libraries’ ideal architectural design, best practices and applications and methods to promote library solutions as well as recent digital services.
With regard to this visit to the UK, H.E. Abdulla Majed Al Ali said: “The NLA looks forward to establishing an Emirati national library to be a national reference and a cultural and informational center that preserves the UAE’s heritage and highlights its scientific and cultural development on the lines of the world largest libraries that incubate human heritage. That is why we visited the world’s major libraries to learn about their latest standards and best practices. Among our priorities was the visit to the UK’s largest libraries due to their global prominence since the national library of the UK, British Library, is one of the largest, richest and most modern libraries in the world.”
“If you look at the largest libraries in London, you will find them a beacon of culture that attracts readership and spreads knowledge because of their green and smart premises and prestigious design as well as high quality services”, he added.
His Excellency said: “As we, in the UAE, recognize the importance of reading in spreading knowledge, developing societies and building the civilization, we intend to establish a national library that emulates the major libraries worldwide in terms of provision of information, design and wide comfortable spaces for reading, which would meet visitors’ requirements.”
He pointed out that being proud of its various historical documents and records that document the Nation’s memory, its collections of paper and electronic books and its special libraries of valuable content, the NLA aims to establish a national green library in an advanced building of a smart infrastructure that would meet patrons’ requirements and provide them with comfortable reading spaces, in line with the latest practices adopted by the largest libraries worldwide.
At the end of the visit, His Excellences highly appreciated the efforts of the Library of Birmingham for its good reception, cooperation and provision of valuable information to the NLA’s delegation, and both parties exchanged souvenirs and shields.
It is worth mentioning that the NLA’s visit to the UK included a visit to the British Museum Library, British Library and Oxford Library.