The Public Library and Community Services: Sharjah Library as a Model

Abstract

This article discusses the role of the public library in community service by presenting Sharjah Library as a practical model of a cultural and knowledge institution serving diverse groups of users. The author outlines the establishment and development of Sharjah Library, then highlights its services in circulation, current awareness, guidance, cultural activities, workshops, seminars, and lectures. The article emphasizes the library’s community-oriented mission through its cooperation with schools, universities, government departments, and professional associations, as well as through orientation visits and awareness programs for students and researchers. It also presents examples of services provided to persons with disabilities, particularly blind and visually impaired users, alongside reading-promotion activities, exhibitions, and programs marking international cultural occasions. The article concludes that Sharjah Library represents a model of the public library as a social and intellectual space whose mission extends beyond preserving and providing access to books, encompassing cultural development, public awareness, and sustained engagement between the library and society.