As part of its efforts to implement the vision of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and implement the directives of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, to involve the youth in improving government services and in implementing initiatives that would keep pace with their future aspirations, Dubai Culture and Arts Authority launched its ‘Find Your Book’ initiative in Dubai Public Library branches to facilitate the process of acquiring books from those libraries.

‘Find Your Book’ comes within a set of initiatives Dubai Culture plans to implement and improve the services provided at its public libraries, based on the ideas received from young school students participating in the second edition of the Young City Makers Championship. HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the championship in December 2017 to strengthen the youth’s role in developing government performance and inspire them and fulfil their aspirations.

As part of the Young City Makers Championship, Dubai Culture organised a workshop on ‘Membership Service of Public Libraries’ at Al Safa Art & Design Library through which the Authority introduced students to the service, and its most important challenges, to derive solutions and launch initiatives under the service’s umbrella. Dubai Culture received 16 ideas to improve the services provided by Dubai Public Libraries as well as propose future services. After studying the proposals and evaluating their feasibility and applicability, the Authority approved five initiatives that will be implemented across Dubai Public Library branches.

The ‘Find Your Book’ initiative comprises the public selecting books to purchase through the Dubai Public Library smart application and searching the map for the nearest public library to visit and acquire the desired books. Dubai Culture began working on the feature in August 2020 and revealed it to the public earlier this month.

The feature is a distinct addition to the Dubai Public Library smart application, which provides access to all services provided by the library across the emirate. Through ‘Find Your Book,’ the Authority aims to ensure the happiness of customers using the application, especially the youth and school students, as well as to enhance their satisfaction with the services that the library offers. The feature also reflects Dubai Culture’s commitment to the Smart Dubai Government initiative launched by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum through the various technical solutions it provides for the convenience of community members as well as in line with the modern requirements and the emirate’s future vision.

Other initiatives that will be implemented in the future include the ‘Reading Youth Club,’ which offers a cultural dialogue to discuss a book in one of the library’s halls, inviting and hosting youth and students to participate. Another initiative is the ‘My Book is Your Book,’ which will provide a spot for donating and exchanging books across all Dubai Public Library branches.