Annual Statistical Collection of UAE Libraries, 1998: al-Shaykh ʻAbd Allāh ibn ʻAli al- Maḥmūd Library

Abstract

This item is an independent statistical and documentary record of the activities of the Sheikh Abdullah bin Ali Al Mahmoud Library in Sharjah during 1998. It provides a concise picture of the library’s service and cultural performance through a set of quantitative and descriptive indicators. The document records growth in collections, including increases in book titles, the addition of new periodicals, and a rise in manuscript-image holdings, reflecting the library’s interest in developing both its general and heritage-related resources. It also documents patterns of library use through monthly user estimates, school visits, and annual circulation figures, giving the material clear value for assessing the library’s public reach and level of engagement.

The document goes beyond simple statistical counting by highlighting the library’s broader cultural and educational role. It refers to lectures and seminars, regular instructional activities, visits by public figures, and support for scholarship opportunities for students from Asia and Africa. For that reason, the item documents not only the use of the library and its collections, but also its function as a cultural and educational institution with wider social impact. Its significance lies in providing a useful reference basis for performance assessment, activity mapping, and understanding the position of the library within the cultural and library landscape of Sharjah and the United Arab Emirates in 1998.