ABU DHABI, 10th March, 2023 (WAM) — The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC), a part of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), has launched an initiative to establish “Reading Corners” at several cultural institutions across the UAE capital.
The initiative was launched to mark the “National Reading Month” and aims to promote a culture of reading among members of the community, as well as to make sources of knowledge available in public places.
The “Reading Corner” is part of the Kalima Reading Club's efforts to promote reading as a daily habit and lifestyle, which was launched by the Kalima Project for Translation in 2018. The Club also aims to support reading in Arabic through events and projects focused on this objective.
Presently, there are “Reading Corners” at the Cultural Foundation, Qasr Al Watan Library, and Manarat Al Saadiyat, offering over 50 titles across various disciplines published by the ALC. These include publications under the Kalima Project for Translation and the Esdarat Project.
Saeed Hamdan Al Tunaiji, the Executive Director of the ALC, stated that establishing a reading culture in the community is one of their primary strategic objectives at the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre. Reading is a gateway to an educated generation that is open to learning, and by creating a "Knowledge/Reading Corner" at major cultural institutions throughout Abu Dhabi, they demonstrate their commitment to making books accessible to all segments of the community, allowing them to explore the wealth of knowledge and treasures available at cultural and tourist destinations in the capital. This, in turn, offers visitors unique experiences and valuable knowledge at culturally significant sites.
The Kalima Reading Club aims to showcase the latest publications of the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre and organise ongoing cultural sessions to discuss books issued by the Kalima Project for Translation and the Esdarat project. They host these sessions at local, Arab, and international book fairs, as well as in partnership with government and academic institutions.