Editorial

Abstract

This editorial provides the intellectual and institutional framing of the second issue of the Annual of Books, Libraries and Information in the United Arab Emirates. It situates the issue within the wider cultural momentum witnessed in the UAE during 1998, with particular emphasis on achievements related to books, libraries, and information. The text makes clear that the publication of the annual is not an isolated publishing event, but rather part of a broader cultural movement that strengthened the place of the book and the library in the Emirati cultural landscape, especially in the context of Sharjah’s celebrations as the Cultural Capital of the Arab World. In this sense, the editorial reads these achievements as indicators of a rapid and meaningful development in the national knowledge and cultural infrastructure.

The editorial highlights several key milestones in this process, including the publication of the first issue of the annual, the announcement of the Sharjah Prize for Library Literature, the opening of Sharjah Library, and the growing international status of the Sharjah International Book Fair. At the same time, it defines the scholarly mission of the annual itself as a platform for researchers in books, libraries, and information studies to publish specialized work and contribute to the integration of cultural and knowledge efforts across the UAE. The text may therefore be read as a concise editorial statement that combines institutional presentation, cultural vision, and an appeal to strengthen specialized research in the library and information field.