Over 800 students participate in HCT-Dubai library week

Over 800 students from the Higher Colleges of Technology - Dubai (HCT-Dubai) participated in the annual Library Week which aims at encouraging students and faculty to interact and utilize the wide variety of resources and materials available at the HCT-Dubai libraries.

Library Week’s main goal is to inspire students to improve their own love of reading, writing and literature, and this year students have been taking home ebooks in the form of ebookmarks as souvenirs to remind them that reading is done in every place and space in their lives.

Dr. Howard Reed, Director of HCT-Dubai said, "Our students are extremely lucky to listen to some exciting writers and talented guest speakers at this year's Library Week. They have inspired our students to come and use our wonderful resources and we hope events such as Library Week encourage our students to find the magic and joy in reading, writing and literary pursuits.  At HCT-Dubai we hope to create passionate readers and better academic students, through such events."

Students participated in the various arts intercultural majlis areas on both Men's and Women's campuses. The event also included weekly activities, guest speakers and interactive displays focusing on intercultural arts, crafts, literature, music, games and guest speakers. 

In cooperation with Emirates Airlines Festival of Literature, international and local guest speakers Jamil Nahra, Francis Matthews and Sarah al Hamad took part in the event. In addition to that, students enjoyed the sessions of the award winning and highly entertaining Emirati manga novelist Qais Sedki; the talented watercolor artist Patricia Al Fakhri and Dr. Zisan Ugurlu who conducted workshops on performing arts, poetry and literature.

Dubai Libraries and booksellers from Kinokuniya and Kalimat were on hand to display their resources and give-away prizes.  A short story competition on the theme of intercultural connections also ran prior to the event.