Encouraging people to read more widely is the aim of a local initiative being launched this weekend. From this Thursday, readers and shoppers are invited to bring unwanted books to the newly opened Deerfields Townsquare mall, where they will find dropboxes for their book donations in the gardens. Participants are also invited to sit down with a coffee to read or take home books for free; there’s also a storytelling area for children.
The event is being organised by Deerfields Townsquare with the help of the Book Shelter. The Book Shelter was set up by two Emiratis in late 2011 to encourage more people to read by providing free access to books across the UAE. The campaign received hundreds of donations of books in its first few months and it has since received thousands of fiction and non-fiction titles in many languages, according to the Book Shelter’s co-founder Mariam Al Khayat.
“Now you can find ‘free libraries’ peppered in cafes all across the Emirates, which was only a dream back when we started,” she says. “We worked hard to make the concept of free books a reality and now we are seeing it adopted by many.
“People now know where to turn when they have unwanted books on their hands and we’re happy that, after two years of hard work, people turn to the Book Shelter to give a second life to their books.”
Al Khayat says that the Deerfields event is a major “milestone” for their cause. “This is one of the biggest events we have ever taken part in. It represents the core of our concept, as it will bring together the community to share and experience literature at no cost. It feels like we have come full circle; our first event was a small reading corner in an open-air event, with books that we had collected from our personal libraries at home.”
Although the Book Shelter distributes books at some cafes on an ongoing basis, such large-scale, dedicated events are rare. One of the initiative’s key aims has always been to establish permanent centres for book donation. Studies show that 50 per cent of Emiratis do not own more than 50 books, despite 90 per cent literacy rates for people over the age of 15. Al Khayat and her co-founder Shaikha Al Shamsi hope that their efforts will encourage UAE residents to read more books and further educate themselves.
Al Shamsi says: “Having a permanent space is the next step for us, but, as of now, people can find our free libraries in Circle Cafe in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, as well as Spill the Bean cafe in Jumeirah, Maraya Art Centre in Sharjah and more places coming soon.” The Maraya Art Centre lets visitors take home four books a month.
Al Shamsi initially hoped that the concept would grow organically and become self-sustainable. One positive indicator of progress, she says, is a rise in book donation at universities across the country – organised by the students themselves.
“Our role is to support them any way we can. Education is a basic human right and we’re trying to do our part in making this a reality, by providing the materials and the accessibility to free literature. We would love to expand on this and provide resources for schools, specifically in the Emirates, but internationally as well.”
The Book Initiative will run from this Thursday to Saturday, January 18 at Deerfields Townsquare in the mall’s garden area, next to the cafe Shakespeare & Co.
• For more information, visit the Book Shelter at www.twitter.com/thebookshelter
Hareth Al Bustani is a features writer at The National.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
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Stars:Grace Kaufman, Pico Alexander, Jacques Colimon
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Directed by: Ricky Staub
Starring: Idris Elba, Caleb McLaughlin, Jharrel Jerome
3.5/5 stars
In Praise of Zayed
A thousand grains of Sand whirl in the sky
To mark the journey of one passer-by
If then a Cavalcade disturbs the scene,
Shall such grains sing before they start to fly?
What man of Honour, and to Honour bred
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For though a Thousand urge him to retreat
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Stands always One, defiant and alone
Against the Many, when all Hope has flown.
Then comes the Test; and only then the time
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History will not forget: that one small Seed
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More than a debt, the Emirates owe to Zayed
Their very Souls, from outside influence freed.
No praise from Roderic can increase his Fame.
Steadfastness was the Essence of his name.
The changing years grow Gardens in the Sand
And build new Roads to Sand which stays the same.
But Hearts are not rebuilt, nor Seed resown.
What was, remains, essentially Alone.
Until the Golden Messenger, all-wise,
Calls out: "Come now, my Friend!" - and All is known
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Director: Lee Isaac Chung
Starring: Glen Powell, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Anthony Ramos
Rating: 2.5/5
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
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- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
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Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
The stats: 2017 Jaguar XJ
Price, base / as tested Dh326,700 / Dh342,700
Engine 3.0L V6
Transmission Eight-speed automatic
Power 340hp @ 6,000pm
Torque 450Nm @ 3,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined 9.1L / 100km
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- As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses.
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Arabian Gulf League fixtures:
Friday:
- Emirates v Hatta, 5.15pm
- Al Wahda v Al Dhafra, 5.25pm
- Al Ain v Shabab Al Ahli Dubai, 8.15pm
Saturday:
- Dibba v Ajman, 5.15pm
- Sharjah v Al Wasl, 5.20pm
- Al Jazira v Al Nasr, 8.15pm
The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Transmission: ten-speed
Power: 420bhp
Torque: 624Nm
Price: Dh325,125
On sale: Now
Brief scores:
Pakistan (1st innings) 181: Babar 71; Olivier 6-37
South Africa (1st innings) 223: Bavuma 53; Amir 4-62
Pakistan (2nd innings) 190: Masood 65, Imam 57; Olivier 5-59
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
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Structural%20weaknesses%20facing%20Israel%20economy
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The specs: McLaren 600LT
Price, base: Dh914,000
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 600hp @ 7,500rpm
Torque: 620Nm @ 5,500rpm
Fuel economy 12.2.L / 100km
Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale
Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni
Director: Amith Krishnan
Rating: 3.5/5
