Meghry Vasken Nazarian here.

Zayed Central Library (ZCL) is a magical and historical place full of books, life, hope, and endless stories from different civilizations.

ZCL is a national library in the heart of Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. Named after Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding father of the UAE, ZCL is the largest public library in Al Ain and plays a vital role in promoting literacy, knowledge, and cultural exchange in the region.

There is nothing more amazing than walking into Zayed Central Library. The bibliosmia alone is enough to make one spiritually relaxed. The special odor of knowledge, emotions, history, and pride have been calmly resting in the books. My favorite library of all time.

The library’s architecture often reflects the traditional Emirati patterns beautifully designed on the white pillars. Incorporating modern design furniture and hanging green leaves from the roof showcase a blend of innovation and heritage.

It is insightful to stop by any of Zayed Library’s white pillars and read the wise thoughts of His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan (May Allah rest his soul in peace). He left behind a legacy of noble values like charity, equality, generosity and tolerance. Sheikh Zayed’s quotes are a source of inspiration and often referenced by other leaders in and around the UAE. Here is one of His Highness Sheikh Zayed’s quotes on unity, human spirit, and innovation:

“Wealth is not in money. Wealth lies in men. This is where true power lies, the power we value. This is what has convinced us to direct all our resources to build the individual, and to use the wealth which God has provided us in the service of the nation.”

Here is the outside part of ZCL. Here, I find tranquility and golden sunset moments with a good book that I cherish forever.

ZCL serves as a gathering place for everyone to connect, learn, relearn, read, and study. During weekdays, these individualized desks become occupied with lots of books, laptops, and other studying materials. All visitors find a safe and a quiet space to read and study.

I captured one of my memorable studying moments during my Ph.D. journey. I used to visit this library twice a week to study and write my thesis. It is a warm home for everyone. It is my home forever.

ZCL organizes and hosts a variety of cultural and educational events throughout the year, such as author talks, the best reader competition, meet the author, book signings, literary festivals, storytelling sessions, and art exhibitions. Library visitors also can use a range of other amenities, including computers with internet, free Wi-Fi, reading rooms, and a theatre.

Taken from the official website of Zayed Central Library.

From Dr. Myra’s GatheringBooks post on ZCL.

These programs aim to engage the community, promote literacy, instil the love for reading and enrich the cultural landscape of Abu Dhabi and the UAE. Zayed Central Library stands as a symbol of the UAE’s commitment to education, culture, and innovation, honoring the legacy of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and his vision for a knowledge-based society.

See here and here for Dr. Myra’s GatheringBooks posts on Zayed Central Library in Al Ain.

Every Saturday, we are doing a highlight on the libraries around the UAE. Just in case you missed it, here is our #UAEReads post on the House of Wisdom in Sharjah featured by Eqlima Ali Dinar and Najla Al Owais; a #UAEReads post on the Mohammed Bin Rashid Library in Dubai featured by Eqlima Ali Dinar; a #UAEReads post on the Al Safa Art and Design Library in Dubai featured by Eqlima Ali Dinar, a #UAEReads post on the Abu Dhabi Children’s Library by Najla Al Owais and Noora Anwahi.

About the Guest Contributor for #UAEReads:

Dr. Meghry Nazarian is an English language teacher and a published educator with more than 10 years of teaching experience. She was a recipient of a graduate fellowship to pursue her PhD studies at UAE University. She gained her 4-year Ph.D. in Leadership & Policy Studies in Education, at the College of Education (CEDU), UAE University. She completed her 2-year Master’s degree in Teaching English for Foreign Language Learners (TEFL) at Aleppo University, Syria. She worked as an assistant to the department chair for Foundations of Education (FOED), UAE University for 6 months. She has delivered several academic workshops for undergraduate and Master students and acted as a panelist for many interdisciplinary events held in CEDU. Meghry has interests in studies related to organizational behavior, cultural intelligence, and cultural leadership. She actively participated in National and International conferences such as IGSW in Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, SSHSRC in Sorbonne University in Abu Dhabi, WELS in Switzerland, MSERA (online) in Little Rock, USA, ALLT 2023 Zayed University, ECER 2023 in Glasgow, Scotland. Meghry loves reading diverse books and picture books and she is an active member in GatheringReaders book club since 2021. She published her work internationally in peer-reviewed SCOPUS-indexed journals and books. She shares her works and achievements on her ORCID platform.

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