Taking place August 24 – 30, the event’s theme was Transform Libraries, Transform Societies, with the additional tagline, Reaching out to the hard to reach.

Rashid Al Kous, executive director, EPA, Mariam Al Obaidli, manager, corporate communication, EPA, and Noura bin Hadiya, manager, KwB, represented the two entities at the congress, the purpose of which is to highlight the critical role played by libraries in the development of a nation, particularly in their ability to transform societies.

Both bodies learned about the best international practices in libraries and publishing, which they have said they aim to utilise fully to enhance UAE’s cultural, social, and economic development through books.