The Saudi Culture Ministry has launched an initiative to develop public libraries in the Kingdom.
Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, also chairman of the board of directors of the Libraries Authority, launched the initiative on Thursday.
It includes investing in public libraries to enhance the concept of “cultural houses” that was announced by the Ministry in its vision and orientation document. The Authority will transform public libraries into cultural platforms with a comprehensive and modern social concept, in which all patterns of cultural creativity meet.
It also aims at providing for individuals from different social segments with knowledge and interaction in an integrated cultural experience.
This initiative was launched following a field study conducted by the Libraries Authority on the situation of public libraries in Saudi Arabia.
Based on this study, it prepared a development plan that extends to 2030, during which it aims to establish 153 public libraries throughout the Kingdom. The first 13 libraries are scheduled to be completed in 2022, while the rest are to be completed by 2030.
According to the new concept, the public libraries will consist of several main components: a public library for book and knowledge seekers, an integrated theater through which theatrical and musical plays are presented and includes screens for visual and cinematic performances, as well as multi-purpose halls, training rooms that host different workshops, open areas for reading and public facilities that make visiting public libraries an integrated cultural experience.
