Abu Dhabi fair to give away must-read books to students

Move is to encourage students to read more

Students visiting the 26th Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF) will receive a backpack of books considered to be essential publications that would hopefully encourage them to read more. 
An initiative of the National Library, part of the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (TCA), the chosen books will be some of the latest, most important publications. 
"We seek to enhance our youth's access to books, encourage them to gain knowledge, strengthen their scientific awareness and make reading a daily activity. The books have been carefully chosen to attract students of all ages and encourage them to read," said Abdullah Majid Al Ali, director of Library Management at TCA. 
"We aim to build educated reading generations capable of shaping the future," he added.
The new National Library initiative will ensure students have access to the most important new books and publications to promote a culture of knowledge in the community and provide an opportunity for school and university students to acquire the most important knowledge and science sources.
The book bag initiative builds on previous National Library programmes, which have distributed book coupons to be spent at the ADIBF to the value of Dh5 million to schools and universities.
The 2016 ADIBF, which will take place at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre from April 27 - May 3 will have extensive cultural and educational programmes this year. Some of its highlights are Book Personality of the Year, a dedicated pavilion to the Arab Islamic philosopher Ibn Rushd, a Black Box cinema experience screening Emirati short films, debates, dialogues and book signings with visiting authors, as well as cooking and artists corners that also display cooking books and art albums.
As in previous years, there will be a focus on one particular country, and the 2016 guest of honour is Italy, whose literature will be present in all sections of ADIBF. 
silvia@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE