Najla Al Owais and Eqlima Ali Dinar here.

Inaugurated in 2019 by His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, the House of Wisdom (HOW) rapidly emerged as a favored destination for students in Sharjah to study, socialise, dine, and expand their knowledge.

The construction of the HOW was initiated to honour the recognition bestowed upon the Emirate of Sharjah by UNESCO, designating it as the Book Capital of the World (see post last week on the picturebook World Book Capital written by Shaikha Bodour Al Qasimi and illustrated by Denise Damanti).

Designed by the acclaimed artist Gerry Judah, the Scroll monument is a remarkable contemporary rendition of an ancient Arabic scroll, symbolizing the dissemination of knowledge. This demonstrates how books can bring people together and create a shared love for reading in the House of Wisdom.

The House of Wisdom boasts a lovely children’s library, workspace and a small play area. Children activities are held regularly throughout the year. Some of the activities held are summer and winter camps, author reading sessions, art therapy sessions, arts and crafts sessions.

Most recently, children were exposed to the Takween exhibition in the House of Wisdom which held both original manuscripts and copied manuscripts of famous Muslim scholars in various fields. This was followed by a practical session in making ‘potions’ (medicine) and learning about the equipment used in the past.

The inner garden in the House of Wisdom offers visitors a tranquil time in a lush green oasis, as are the wide-open spaces in both the front and back gardens. Yoga sessions are also sometimes held in the back garden of the House of Wisdom.

Additionally, Arabic for non-Arabs, Japanese and French language classes are offered in collaboration with renowned institutes for both children and adults for a specified fee. In term of events, all local and national celebrations are marked with special events such as relevant book talks, musical shows, and exhibitions.

Whilst anyone can browse the books and use the multiple smart screens to find specific books to read at the premises, a membership is required to borrow the books for home use. There are also several other services that one can find at the library: study and meeting rooms that patrons can reserve for use, a multipurpose hall that can be booked for events, Al Jaziri lab, the Espresso Book Machine Printing, a lady’s diwan to work in privacy, various free reading and study spaces, and curated exhibitions. The library also includes picture books in Braille for the visually impaired.

As part of the College of Education’s month-long Reading Festival in 2023 (see here), we were fortunate enough to have used this gorgeous space as a venue when we held a panel discussion on young readers with three acclaimed young readers (Mezna Najeeb, Selina Hamed and Ayaan Tariq) who shared the inspiration behind their love of reading, and their goals in writing.

The House of Wisdom provides a space for families to connect, explore books, partake in activities, attend workshops, and utilise sustainable facilities, all in a welcoming atmosphere. It serves as a living example of Sharjah’s status as the Book Capital of the World.

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About the Guest Contributors for #UAEReads:

Eqlima Ali Dinar is a PhD Candidate in Education Leadership at the United Arab Emirates University. Within her research, she explores topics such as research self-efficacy, and the wellbeing of teachers. Presently, she serves as a tutor in science and biology, as well as a freelance assessor for a Diploma in Education Studies. Initially embarking on her career as a cardiac nurse, she eventually discovered her true passion in the realm of education. She held a position as an Educational Consultant, providing training to nursery teachers and directors. Prior to that, she had a career as a preschool teacher for nearly a decade. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the University of Sharjah, followed by a Master of Education Management, Leadership & Policy at the British University in Dubai. She enjoys reading books, picture books, and manga. Among her other interests are crocheting amigurumi and origami.

Najla Al Owais is a PhD candidate studying Math Education at UAEU. She has previously worked as a middle school mathematics teacher, and a freelance translator and interpreter. She is passionate about teaching mathematics, and is an avid reader, and loves finding the intersection between both mathematics and reading. She has a Bachelor’s of Science from Zayed University in Math Education and Masters of Arts from the American University of Sharjah in English-Arabic-English Translating and Interpreting. Wherever she goes, books find her. She hopes to one day publish her own book.

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About the Guest Editor/Curator for March 2024 [#UAEReads]:

Myra Garces-Bacsal has served as a teacher educator for 15 years and has led several research projects on reading and social emotional learning, diverse picturebooks and teacher practices, psychology of high creatives and exceptional people, culturally responsive and inclusive education. She is a quintessential lover and creator of booklists (see her Social and Emotional Learning bookshelf here and other publications below). Myra serves as the Assistant Dean for Research and Graduate Studies with the College of Education, UAE University. She is a self-proclaimed nerd who lives and breathes books and enjoys organizing events and festivals where fellow nerds converge and attempt to joyfully change the world.

Publications on booklists:

Garces-Bacsal, R. M., Alhosani, N. M., Elhoweris, H., Tupas, R. (2023). A diverse social and emotional learning booklist for gifted learners and advanced readers. Roeper Review, 45(1), 25-36. https://doi.org/10.1080/02783193.2022.2145397

Garces-Bacsal, R. M., Alhosani, N. M., Elhoweris, H., Al Ghufli, H. T., AlOwais, N. M., Baja, E. S., & Tupas, R. (2022). Using diverse picturebooks for inclusive practices and transformative pedagogies. In M. Efstratopoulou (Ed.), Rethinking Inclusion and Transformation in Special Education (pp. 72-92). IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-6684-4680-5.ch005

Garces-Bacsal, R. M. (2021). Of grit and gumption, sass and verve: What gifted students can learn from multicultural picture book biographies. In S. R. Smith’s Handbook of giftedness and talent development in Australasian Pacific (pp. 431-453). Singapore: Springer International Handbooks of Education. https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007/978-981-13-3041-4_18

Garces-Bacsal, R. M. (2020). Diverse books for diverse children: Building an early childhood diverse booklist for social and emotional learning. Journal of Early Childhood Literacy, 22(1), 66-95. https://doi.org/10.1177/1468798420901856