Conferences & Seminar List

The Digital Library Symposium The Current Situation and Aspirations for the Future

Digital libraries are the modern form of library in that they depend on modern techniques for the transfer of information and data from paper to electronic form, for more efficient storage, processing, and transmission of information to users. In the early 1990s, projects and programmes for the preparation of digital libraries were launched in a number of countries, and their national libraries were often the institutions supporting those programmes. The first digital libraries appeared on the Internet starting in 1995, followed by other digital libraries after that. There are many experiences and practices in this area, perhaps the most successful of which are libraries in America and Europe, where there is enormous capability to deal with technology. Although Arab libraries are late in breaking into this area, there are a few Arab attempts to establish these digital libraries, which may have caused some artistic, technical, legal and financial problems. Technology is an important aspect of dealing with the distinctive characteristics of the Arabic language, and the scarcity of financial resources has affected the creation of digital libraries in the Arab world. The legal aspect of intellectual property rights and the regulation of the transfer of knowledge sources from paper to electronic form has a clear impact on the creation of digital libraries, since the lack of legislation on the one hand, and the failure to apply it on the other, as well as other aspects relating to the behaviour of researchers and access to information, are obvious. Due to its leading role in this area, the King Abdul-Aziz Public Library, in cooperation with the Saudi Libraries and Information Association, held the Symposium from 21-24 April 2002, in order to achieve the following objectives: Objectives of the Symposium: 1. To define the general concept of a digital library, as well as the set of vocabulary and terminology relating to the digital library. 2. To introduce the most prominent features of the digital library in the contemporary world in its independent forms. 3. To identify the main preconditions for the existence of a digital library. 4. To introduce the Arabic models available for the digital library and to identify the most important factors influencing the creation and development of the digital library (economic, technical, substantial and social). 5. To introduce the functions performed by a digital library (as a stand-alone model or an integrated model with a traditional library). 6. To identify the main types of digital library information and documentation services. 7. To outline a general vision for the establishment of a public e-library in Riyadh linked to one of the large libraries. 8. To frame the legal aspects of intellectual property rights, and the relationship between this and the creation of a digital library. Themes of the Symposium: In the light of the above objectives, the discussion of the Symposium took place on the following themes: 1. The Digital Library between Theory and Application: This theme included talking about the different conceptions of a digital library, the terminology and vocabulary used to describe it, the historical, functional and practical dimensions, digital library services and their visibility in the contemporary world, especially in developed countries, and presenting real mature models such as are to be found in developed countries. 2. The Digital Library in Saudi Arabia – Present and Future: A selective presentation was delivered showing the availability of the digital library and of scientific, cultural, educational and economic spaces, either independently or in conjunction with other library institutions and information facilities. Then the discussion moved on to deal with an assessment of how far this type of library had developed and how to improve it in the light of the technological capabilities available, and favourable economic, social and political factors. 3. The Internet and its role in providing components for creating a digital library: This theme reviewed the pivotal role played by or potentially played by the Internet, in providing key ingredients for the digital library to perform its core functions, which are centred on two elements: provision and service. 4. Saudi Arabia's information infrastructure and its goal of a digital library: This theme included a general description of the information infrastructure, the extent of collaboration among them, and how this collaboration can be activated to develop a common strategic plan to channel its technical potential into the digital library, with traditional and digital bodies working in parallel. 5. E-publishing as a major source of supplies for the digital library: This theme dealt with how far e-publishing had progressed, and how it can be seen as a major source of on-line provision for the digital library without the traditional procedures that are followed in library supply departments. 6. Legislation on digital data and information transmission: The focus of this theme was on the possibility of new legislation being passed that would keep up with the requirements of dealing with the digital library and the Internet, as required in order to preserve intellectual property rights. Activities accompanying the Symposium: The initiator of this symposium organized a number of specialized cultural events, including: 1. A specialized workshop on digital libraries, and the use of the Internet in libraries, entitled: Introduction to the Internet for information workers, on: · An introduction to the Internet (definition, features, and applications); · Search tools (Arabic and foreign); · The use of e-mail chat systems and newsgroups. · Checking out some internet applications in libraries and information centres for online librarians. · Assessing information. · A specialized exhibition on e-libraries. 2. An exhibition of books, publications and journals specializing in technical and computing topics, the internet and digital libraries. 3. A specialized technical exhibition on software for the digital library, with the participation of information centres, libraries, companies and specialized institutions. 4. Hosting the Library for the Second Annual Conference (the Annual General Meeting of the Saudi Libraries and Information Association). Recommendations and Closing Statement 1. Staff should be trained who are capable of dealing with the digital environment, and adapting to its requirements by providing them with the skills that will help them to inhabit the information age, and to take on the new roles that they are entrusted with. 2. Library infrastructure should be developed in Saudi Arabia, including networks, servers, and computers to accommodate the idea of a digital library that requires minimal infrastructure. 3. To develop further training courses on how to deal with the Internet aimed at users and librarians, and create incentives encouraging staff to attend these courses in order to keep up with contemporary changes. 4. To increase attention to the regulation of digital information sources available on the web in a manner consistent with their nature and characteristics, with the purpose of serving scientific research. 5. To include in public and higher education courses and curricula the subject of teaching the use of the Internet in the scientific field. 6. To work to remove obstacles that may limit the start-up of information organizations, and prevent them from being prepared to deal with sources of digital information. 7. To promote digital information awareness in the scientific community in particular, given the need this community has for official information in order to do research and write up research papers. 8. To inform officials (or representatives of libraries who conclude agreements) of various legal aspects of digital sources of information, so that they have sufficient knowledge to read and understand the agreements to be concluded, as regards their legal, financial, technical and other aspects. 9. To take advantage of pioneering experiences in other countries, and seek to utilise them in implementing the idea of digital libraries in the Kingdom. 10. To strengthen cooperation and coordination projects among digital information institutions, in particular with regard to bibliographic data bases in order to optimise the ways in which they are used. 11. The King Abdul-Aziz Public Library will form a committee to follow up the Symposium’s recommendations, implement them, and follow up with printing the conference papers and publish them as a volume of conference proceedings.

Symposium: The Future of Culture in the Arab world

The Symposium was organized by the Library under the patronage of King Abdullah Bin Abdul-Aziz, when he was Crown Prince over 21-23 November 2000, on the occasion of the selection of Riyadh as the Capital of Arab Culture for the year 2000. The Symposium was attended by a group of Arab intellectuals, academics and specialists. It sought to distil a vision more inclusive of the cultural constants and variables of the Arab world, and from there future directions and possibilities for Arab culture. Objectives of the Symposium: 1. To achieve a better awareness of the current state of culture in the Arab world. 2. To deepen the sense of the importance of culture in Arab societies, and to encourage everybody to share in developing it. 3. To examine the most important problems currently facing Arab culture and find suitable solutions. 4. To develop a deep and comprehensive vision of the future of culture in the Arab world. Themes of the Symposium: The themes of the seminar were selected to move from present to future and from local to international along three main axes: - Axis 1: Studies that present in-depth examinations of the current state of culture the Arab world: This axis tries through facts and figures to read this reality in such a way as to provide a basis for future readers. - Axis 2: Prospects for the future (looking ahead): Its features can be seen in the divisions of the present and by looking closely at the most striking aspects of Arab culture beginning with research into problematic issues and then going on to look at the main aspects of any civilizational-cultural formation. - Axis 3: Aspects of Global Culture. This axis includes a different and unfamiliar way of presenting the customary Arab cultural narrative, as we call upon the "other" to be different to us on the one hand, and to meet with us on the other. Recommendations 1. The Islamic dimension of Arab culture should be emphasised, as well as openness to other cultures. 2. The importance of the Arabic language in spreading culture should be emphasised, as well as the way it functions as a vessel for science and education. 3. A media strategy should be adopted that serves Arab culture, including opening the media space for more diverse cultural programmes. 4. A website should be created to put vessels of Arab culture in the hands of all. 5. The Arab child should be deeply rooted in his culture and strongly linked to his heritage, identity and native values. 6. The role of the book in spreading culture should be given more importance, raising cultural awareness among the nation's citizens. Printing and publishing activities should be encouraged, and the Arab reader’s access to books should be increased. 7. Awareness of the effects of globalization and its international institutions must be increased, because their programmes and projects are being used to enshrine the domination of Western culture and marginalize cultural diversity. We also need to call on all Arab states to help in drafting the legislation and agreements of those institutions and organizations. 8. More should be done to encourage the private sector in the Arab world to participate in cultural activities, and more opportunities should be provided for businessmen to contribute to cultural projects in Arab countries. 9. More libraries, information centres and cultural institutions should be established in order to promote cultural awareness. 10. Scientific research institutions should be developed and nurtured in the Arab world. 11. Diversity in the plastic arts should be increasingly developed and what is still held in museums and galleries should be preserved. 12. Emphasis should be given to caring for the Arab heritage and using it in the service of Arab culture. 13. The Arab Organization for Education, Culture and Science should be called on to reformulate the comprehensive plan for Arab culture in accordance with contemporary data. 14. Care should be given to the spreading of Islamic culture, and the teaching and study of the Arabic language in Islamic countries, as well as Muslim minority areas. Concluding statement: Praise be to God the Lord of the Worlds, and prayer and peace be upon the faithful Prophet. Your Royal Highness Prince Abdul-Aziz bin Sattam bin Abdul-Aziz.. Dear guests.. Honourable attendees. The peace, mercy and blessings of God be upon you. As we welcomed you a few days ago, so this evening we invite you with love and sincere prayers to return to your home countries and your families in the best of health, and to luxuriate in the clothes of health and happiness, always remembering how happy we were to have you among us. This Symposium was a great opportunity for us to meet you, and to enjoy your contributions, deliberations and pertinent opinions on an important cultural issue that concerns us all. What you presented at this seminar was, of course, a great addition to Arab culture and a great achievement that the library can be proud of, bringing together these bright minds gifted with intellect, culture and creativity, leading our Arab Islamic Umma into more serious work and constructive beneficence. It is my hope, dear friends, that this Symposium will achieve its goals and that it will contribute to stimulating dialogue and opening the horizons of debate in a way that will restore to our Arab culture its dignity and distinctiveness. This should help us to step into the future with confidence and with well thought out programmes that will result in more gatherings such as this one, which I hope will be repeated so that we can gain further benefit and deepen the sense of productive work. I also hope that my colleagues on the committees working on this Symposium have done their duty towards you. We apologize to you for any shortcoming due to some mistake committed by our hard-working staff. This library, so amply endowed by its founder, should indeed be highly organized and extremely efficient, in accordance with the capabilities and counsel available to us, and this Symposium along with the other cultural and scientific programmes witnessed by this library in the course of its various programmes and plans should be crowned with success. On this occasion, I would like to extend my warmest thanks and appreciation to the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques, His Highness the Crown Prince, and His Highness the Second Deputy for their support and sponsorship of culture and intellectuals. I also extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to His Royal Highness Prince Salman Bin Abdul-Aziz, Emir of the Riyadh region, and to His Royal Highness Prince Sultan Bin Fahd Bin Abdul-Aziz, President-General of Youth Welfare and Chairman of the Supreme Committee for the celebration of the selection of Riyadh as the Capital of Arab Culture for the year 2000, for their backing and support of the programmes of various cultural institutions. In conclusion, I reiterate my thanks and how proud I am in the presence of this distinguished cultural gathering in our fair city of Riyadh. Peace, mercy and blessing be upon you all, Faisal bin Abdul-Rahman bin Mu'ammar General Supervisor of the Library

Symposium Old and Rare Manuscripts of the Quran

Speakers at the Symposium were Dr. Bashir Bin Hassan Al-Humayri, a manuscript expert, specialist in Qur'anic studies, and an assistant professor in the Department of Qur'anic Studies at Taiba University; and Professor Saleh Bin Sulayman Al-Hajji, Director of Manuscripts at King Saud University. The Symposium was run by the Deputy General Supervisor of the Library, who welcomed the participatants, presented a historical overview of the manuscript museums and the cultural role played by the Library in enriching the landscape of knowledge with many diverse cultural products, which are available to researchers from all parts of the world. Attention was drawn to the fact that the Islamic world possesses two million manuscripts of the Qur’an copied over the last fifteen centuries, while it was explained that the Holy Qur’an has had very high status since the emergence of Islam. These manuscripts were not copied on a commercial basis or as a gift, but rather as a means of establishing Shari’a and Islam, and to enable the Muslim to apply his religion. The deputy general supervisor of the library also confirmed that the more than half of the Islamic manuscripts from east to west relate to the Holy Qur’an. The manuscripts are written in different scripts, and contain decorative designs even from the beginnings of Islam to the present. During the Symposium, the two guests spoke about the history of the printing of the Qur’an, the most prominent manuscripts of the Qur’an copied throughout Islamic history, the most prominent scripts that they were written in, and the international and Islamic libraries that possess the most prominent manuscripts of the Qur’an. Professor Saleh Al-Hajji reviewed a series of pictures of manuscripts copied in different eras, and whose originals are preserved in King Saud University, including a piece of parchment with verses of Surat al-Furqan written on both sides of it, and a copy of a manuscript of the Qur’an from the 9th century AH (copied in 898 AH). The names of the surahs were written in gold leaf at the beginning of each surah, and the edges of the pages were trimmed with decoration. He also presented a manuscript copied in 1651, containing 500 pages, showing that the common denominator between the different manuscripts is decoration, gold leaf and the script used. One of the things that he presented was a photograph of a rare copy of some pages from a manuscript that was written on 31 pages, each of whose lines began with an alif. It is a rare manuscript, called the Alif Version. Dr. Bashir Al-Hamiri wondered: Why do we study the manuscripts in the Islamic world? He opined that this has a historical dimension, to enable us to read the changes in writing and copying, as well as to establish the pillars of religion. He also opined that the manuscripts had suffered great hardships in the course of processing and manufacturing the inks, and that the scribe was writing with his spirit and not just with his hand. He displayed a collection of pictures of rare manuscripts, and types of writing on decorative and gilded pages. He pointed out that there was a technical symmetry in the writing of verses in terms of starting and ending with certain letters. The writing was without dots or diacritics, and Muslims relied on memorization rather than writing. He also presented a page from a manuscript kept at the University of Cambridge. The seminar was accompanied by an exhibition of sample pictures of manuscripts kept in the Library. The Library possesses a rare collection of manuscripts, a number of which were on display, which had been copied in a number of Arab and Islamic countries.

The Symposium on the Rights of the Child

Among the cultural activities coinciding with International Children's Day, the Library held this seminar, in which the Secretary-General of the National Human Rights Association, Khaled Al Fakhri, and the President of the Saudi Association for Child Welfare, Princess Nora Bint Abdul Rahman Nadia Bint Fahd Al-Siif, spoke. The seminar was moderated by Dr. Fahd Bin Ali Al-Alyan, Director of the National Cultural Project for the Renewal of the Relationship with the Book. It was held on Tuesday evening, November 20th 2018, in the Lecture Hall of the King Abdul-Aziz Public Library. The two lecturers reviewed the rights of the child from two points of view: · The Legal Point of View, as expressed in the charters of international organizations, the UN and UNICEF; · The educational and family point of view, looking at the most prominent laws dealing with the rights of the child including a review of the education, health, family care and education fields; and constantly monitoring progress in these fields, especially in the light of modern technologies such as mobile devices and the Internet. Al-Fakhiri explained that in working with the National Assembly for Human Rights, he had adopted the cause of the rights of the child, and had often called for the protection of the child from perverted ideas, the preservation of his various rights, the prevention of the exploitation of children in commercial marketing, the prevention of the marriage of minors, and adherence to the various international conventions concerning children. The researcher Nadia Al-Sayf has previously presented important research on children's rights and the need to monitor them, like the research that she conducted along with other participants into the extent of children's overuse of modern devices such as electronic games and mobile devices. In the subsequent paper, she offered recommendations and strategies, the most important of which were: · Controlling the use of mobile devices and video games by children; · Intensifying parental monitoring; · Encouraging children to read; · playing popular sports with the participation of family members; · fostering family ties that in turn develop social and language skills in children. It is worth mentioning that the International Day of the Child falls on the same date as the signing of the International Convention on the Rights of the Child on 20 November 1989 by 191 countries.

International Symposium Sources of information about the Islamic world

31 October 1999 (22 Rajab 1420 AH) The Arab and Islamic world suffers from a one-sided information flow problem, which keeps it in the position of the receiver and unable to create information or to publish it in a way that serves its interests and supports its aspirations. Because most sources of information do not exercise this role in an honest and accurate manner, the need has developed for an Islamic effort to study the sources of information about our Islamic world as a step toward spreading right and honest information that gives the world the image of Islam and Muslims in a way that is not slanted or distorted. Aware of the importance of scientific information to people in general and to Muslim peoples in particular, since it is one of the most prominent elements of progress and prosperity, the King Abdul-Aziz Public Library organized the symposium under the auspices of King Abdullah bin Abd al-Aziz, when he was Crown Prince and Chairman of the Library's Board of Directors, in cooperation with the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Advocacy and Guidance and the Islamic Development Bank. The Symposium aimed at dealing with the different types of information sources on the Islamic world, printed and otherwise, bibliographic, non-bibliographic, historical, geographical, institutional and non-institutional, with descriptions, analysis, study and evaluation to provide a strategic scientific vision of information organization and provision of information about our Islamic world to researchers, scholars and those interested in the issues of the Islamic world, so as to combine efforts toward creating a global Islamic information network. A group of scholars, researchers and university professors from Saudi Arabia, the Arab and Islamic world, Europe and the United States participated in it through presenting research, participating in discussion sessions or presenting papers that enriched the Symposium’s proceedings and made it a world-class event. Objectives of the Symposium The Symposium sought to achieve a number of objectives, including: 1- To frame the right information about the Muslim world in terms of place, time, and credibility. 2- To providing references to the most important sources of knowledge relating to the Islamic world. 3- To identify sources of information about the Islamic world, writers and authors, Muslims and non-Muslims, and classify them according to credibility and comprehensiveness. 4- To look at the future of information in the Islamic world through the opinions of scholars. 5- To develop a long-term strategy to protect the right information about the Islamic world from the distortions of partiality, and combine efforts to create a global Islamic information network. Themes of the Symposium: The papers presented at the Symposium focused on the study of sources of information relating to the contemporary Islamic world, as follows: (A‌) Studies of sources of information: 1- Sources published in separate books. 2- Sources that are chapters or parts of books that contain such information in the context of other information. 3- Sources published in dictionaries, encyclopaedias, and guidebooks. 4- Official reports and books of statistics. 5- Conference and symposium proceedings. 6- Unpublished documents. (B‌) Studies on centres producing information about issues of the contemporary Islamic world: 1- The Centre's relation with the issues of the contemporary Islamic world. 2- Ways it obtains information. 3- How it processes information. 4- How it makes use of this information. 5- How it disseminates information. (C) Study of existing cooperation between information centres in the Islamic world: 1- At the local level. 2- On the Islamic level. 3- On the global level. 4- Degree of availability to researchers through IT. (D) Planning for the establishment of an Islamic information network, taking into account: 1- The site. 2- How it should be financed. 3- IT equipment and software. 4- Staffing. 5- To what extent the existing shortage of information on Islamic world issues can be overcome through this network. The Library is keen to disseminate the scientific benefit of the research presented to the Symposium, to publish it in a volume of conference proceedings, and to provide it to researchers and those interested in Islamic affairs. Final Statement and Recommendations The King Abdul-Aziz Public Library, in cooperation with the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Advocacy and Guidance and the Islamic Development Bank, held a global scientific symposium on Islamic World Information sources, in which a large number of researchers and specialists from inside and outside Saudi Arabia participated, and formed a preparatory committee that developed a strategy for the proceedings of the symposium, setting out its objectives and themes. The response of scientific institutions, think tanks, scientists, and intellectuals was considerable. The seminar was opened under the patronage of his Royal Highness Prince Abdullah Bin Abdul-Aziz, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Head of the National Guard and Chairman of the Library's Board of Directors, during a celebration of the 100th anniversary of King Abdul-Aziz's entry into Riyadh on 15 January 1902 AD (5 Shawwal 1319). This event marked the founding of Saudi Arabia, when it became a country of security, a highly respected regional, Arab, Islamic and global centre that combines a long past, a bright present, and a brighter future by God's permission. The Symposium was accompanied by the opening of a technical exhibition. There were twenty sessions in the Symposium and seventy research papers were discussed in addition to two general seminars. The first of these was held on Monday evening and was entitled International Media and Muslim Issues, and the second was held on Wednesday evening and was entitled Orientalism: The Residue of the Present and the Prospects for the Future. Scientific discussions took place in a scientific atmosphere between researchers and the audience, influencing research, and benefiting participants. The research and studies presented to the seminar included careful monitoring of the purveyors of information about the Islamic world and a careful study was done of all the subjects discussed in the twenty sessions of the Symposium. The researchers were careful to strive after objectivity, and to carry out scientific investigation and deep analysis of events, and to look ahead to the future prospects of information for the world in general and Muslims in particular. A programme of visits was organized for participants, through which they were able to see the aspects of the renaissance taking place in the Kingdom, praising in particular the historic King Abdul-Aziz Centre, which is a record full of what Saudi people have given the world over the centuries. In thanking the Crown Prince for sponsoring the Symposium, his generous hospitality and the beautiful reception, the participants in the Symposium expressed their appreciation to the King for his outstanding efforts and his great wisdom, for all that he has given to the Arab and Islamic world, and for his firm positions in support of issues concerning Arabs and Muslims. The participants noted the Kingdom's efforts in solidarity, bringing Muslims to one mind, raising their status and solving their issues. The participants also praised the technical developments taking place in the fields of information in the Kingdom, and its experiences in pursuing a comprehensive and balanced renaissance that combines adherence to Islamic principles with mature and rational openness to the realities of modern civilization. They made the following recommendations: 1. A long-term strategy should be developed to provide information sources about the Muslim world by establishing an information centre that links Islamic information networks. The translation of information sources into and out of Arabic should be intensified; 2. Historical information about the Muslim world should be purified of the insidious information that has distorted it, in order to burnish the brilliant civilizational face of Islam and Muslims; 3. A multilingual Islamic knowledge service should be created to take its distinguished place among the sources of information about the Islamic world; 4. A call should be issued for the creation of a research engine on the internet to address those seeking for information about the Islamic world; 5. The establishment of an Islamic satellite channel should be accelerated to be the means for the Islamic world to convey Islamic opinion to the world and to draw the correct picture of Islam; 6. Greater interest should be taken in Islamic minorities. They should become a focus of Islamic media so that they themselves, once they have been educated, might become a bulwark for Islam, and a positive element in their country; 7. Benefit should be drawn from Saudi Arabia’s success in combining the maintenance of its own well-thought-out foundational principles with openness to the world; 8. Universities in the Islamic world should be invited to adopt courses on sources of information about the Muslim world; 9. An Islamic classification system should be adopted that stems from Islamic culture and organizes the different sciences according to their place in Islamic society; 10. Access should be facilitated to sources of information in the areas of technical scientific research in order to serve the Islamic Nation in this important field; 11. Scientists, researchers and academics in universities and research centres should be encouraged to carry out field and applied research on information about the Muslim world and its sources and link it to the scientific activity of faculty and researchers; 12. Symposia on sources of information about the Islamic world should be intensified in order to master information technology in order to provide, organise and make it available to beneficiaries; 13. The King Abdul-Aziz Public Library in Riyadh should be charged with forming a committee to follow up the recommendations of the Symposium and work on implementing them; 14. Telegrams of thanks should be sent to the leadership of Saudi Arabia. Praise be to God, who is the one who blesses our efforts.

Seminar: From the Aesthetics of Arabic to Artificial Intelligence

The Library held the symposium with the participation of Dr. Abdul-Muhsin Bin Obeid al-Thubayti and Dr. Hayfa bint Muhammad al-Furayh The seminar was organized by Professor Ahmad bin Khalaf Al-Mukhaydash on the occasion of the celebration of International Arabic Language Day, which falls on December 18 each year. This day was chosen as the World Arabic Language Day because it was the day in 1973 when the United Nations General Assembly adopted the resolution that Arabic should be the sixth official language of the United Nations. From that time, it became the date for the annual celebration of International Arabic language Day. The United Nations stated in the communique in which it declared the Arabic language an official language: The United Nations General Assembly "recognizes the important role of the Arabic language in the preservation and dissemination of human civilization and culture". The Arab Islamic heritage preserves the genius and originality of the language of the Qur'an and the Traditions of the Prophet, displaying various literary genres including poetry, prose, literary writing, letters, books on rhetoric, speeches, autographs, and various other literary art forms, which constitute a vast linguistic reservoir for an encyclopaedic language, which is rich in millions of words, synonyms and linguistic resources. The two speakers focused on defining the concept of the aesthetics of language, the elements of fine textual taste, the aesthetic reading of literary texts including poetry, narrative, novels, story-telling, and drama, and looking in detail at the aesthetic elements of the Arabic language, including words, sentences, styles and the creative use of texture, description, eloquence and rhetoric, as well as touching on the introductory sections of literary texts, and that from two points of view of poetic musicality and descriptive narrative. The seminar also sought to define the concept of artificial intelligence, the relationship between it and the Arabic language, the fields where Arabic can be used in artificial intelligence, and the obstacles that prevent artificial intelligence using Arabic.

Parenting symposium

On 18 November 2019 AD (21 Rabi’ al-Awwal 1441 AH), in the Services and Reading Rooms Branch, the King Abdul-Aziz Public Library organized an educational symposium entitled Parenting as part of the cultural activities of the Library. The Library has always sought to include in its activities a variety of subjects that are of interest to all groups of society, and parenting is one of the programmes of interest to UNICEF, which emphasizes that parental care is not just a need but a right for every child. It means by this nurturing a child in a supportive and sustainable environment that helps him/her to survive", and such care and support includes ensuring a number of foundational elements for the child. The Symposium dealt with the subject of parenting as a main focus of discussion, with emphasis on the medical, psychological and educational care provided by parents to their children. The Symposium was led by Dr Nura al-Rabi’an, in cooperation with a member of the Faculty of the Early Childhood Department of King Sa’ud University, Dr Sarah al-Abdul-Karim, and Assistant Professor and Psychiatric Counsellor specializing in anxiety, mood and behavioural cognitive therapy, Dr Mashaal al-Aqil. The Library has provided parental care to children through this Symposium with a view to contributing to improving families’ skills and raising their culture of care, nutrition and protection of children, expanding parents' understanding of their children, and participating in the delivery of basic and effective messages for the development of children to their fullest potential. Part One Part Two Part Three Part four

The Proceedings of the Symposium The Future of Culture in the Arab World

This Symposium was held from 21-23 November 2000, under the patronage of King Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz, when he was Crown Prince, on the occasion of the selection of Riyadh as the Capital of Arab Culture 2000. The Proceedings contain the papers delivered at the Symposium and the contributions that accompanied the proceedings of each session. Participants in the activities of the Symposium included a select group of intellectuals, academics and specialists from the Arab World. The Symposium sought to develop a more inclusive understanding of the cultural constants and variables of the Arab world, and then to look at future trends and the shape of things to come, organised according to axes that move from present to future and from local to international, through the following themes: Theme 1. Studies that reflect the reality of culture in the Arab world, and try, through facts and figures, to read that reality in such a way as to give a baseline for reading the future. Theme 2. A way forward whose features can be seen in the divisions of the present and by looking closely at the most striking aspects of Arab culture, beginning with research into problematic issues and then going on to look at the main aspects of the formation of any culture and civilization. Theme 3. This theme shows us a different and unfamiliar way of presenting the customary Arab cultural narrative, as we call upon the "other" to be different to us on the one hand, and to meet with us on the other.

The Proceedings of the Symposium Andalusia: Centuries of Turmoil and Usurpations

Organized by: The King Abdul-Aziz Public Library Publisher: King Abdul Aziz Public Library, Riyadh, 1994 5 Volumes 10 peer-reviewed works The International Symposium Andalusia: Centuries of Turmoil and Usurpations was sponsored by King Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz, when he was Crown Prince and took place between October 30th and November 3rd, 1994, with the participation of more than 100 foreign and Arab scholars, historians and researchers. The research papers of the Symposium have been published in five volumes, as follows: Volume I: History and philosophy Volume 2: The Moriscos; Andalusia in the writings of orientalists; geography and travels in Andalusia. Volume III: Civilization, architecture and art. Volume IV: Language and Literature Volume 5: Forensic Science

The Proceedings of the Symposium The Use of the Arabic Language in Information Technology

Preparation: King Abdul-Aziz Public Library Publisher: King Abdul-Aziz Public Library, Riyadh, 1993. No. of pages: 886 4 peer-reviewed works These proceedings represent a selection of the papers from the Symposium organized by the Library from 10-14 May 1992 under the patronage of King Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz, when he was Crown Prince. It includes 42 papers by more than 73 researchers from the Arab world. The Proceedings begin with an introduction dealing with the motives for holding the symposium, its themes, and the papers that are included.

Symposium Islam and Inter-Civilizational Dialogue

Held in: The King Abdul-Aziz Public Library Riyadh (17-20 March 2002) The King Abdul-Aziz Public Library organized the International Symposium entitled Islam and Inter-Civilizational Dialogue under the auspices of King Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz, when he was Crown Prince and Chairman of the Library's Board of Directors, in response to the United Nations call for the year 2001 to be the Year of Inter-Civilizational, and in affirmation of the place of the Message of Islam in Inter-Civilizational Dialogue. Objectives of the Symposium: The Symposium aimed to highlight the concept of dialogue and conflict among civilizations, and to explain the principle of dialogue and communication in Islam and the values and principles on which inter-civilizational dialogue should be based, clarifying the foundational concepts behind Islam's interaction with other civilizations, and emphasizing that Islam is a religion of dialogue and communication with civilizations, as well as clarifying some misconceptions about contemporary cultural patterns. Main Themes of the Symposium: Axis 1: Civilizations in Conflict or in Dialogue? Human history contains much evidence that conflict is a feature of human communication and is an influential factor in the formation and transmission of civilizations. Although wars have been a source of destruction, they have also transmitted knowledge and other components of civilization. At the same time, peaceful relations and dialogue have played a major role in achieving communication and building civilizations, and there is much evidence that the greater part of civilizational achievement would not have been possible without first God and then dialogue as a civilized approach to mutual understanding and co-existence among civilizations, while being sensitive to the specificities of each civilization and respecting the principles and values of other civilizations. Axis 2: Islam and Other Civilizations: Axis 2 aimed to emphasize the importance of dialogue in Islam and to clarify the foundations underlying it, as well as to address the attitude of Islam towards other civilizations and its relationship with the Other as a relationship of complementarity based on co-existence and dialogue. Islam has defined the parameters of communication, in the Qur'an, the Sunnah of the Prophet, and in many other historical documents from the days of the initial proclamation of Islam and subsequent eras. In the same axis, there is an invitation to consider the Islamic attitude towards cultural relations from various perspectives, both regarding the concept of civilization itself, and how to conduct dialogue and build civilizations. Axis 3: The Experiences and Practices of Contemporary civilizations This axis included the presentation and discussion of examples of practices and evidence from each civilization, with emphasis on some contemporary issues, such as the environment, terrorism, human rights, women's rights and scientific development, human security, globalization and cultural specificities. It also addressed the attitude of Islam towards fundamental issues that continue to preoccupy the contemporary world, while at the same time representing natural evidence. Final Statement and Recommendations of the Symposium The audience listened to the address of Prince Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz, founder of the Library, and chairman of its Board, in which he welcomed the participants and thanked them for their response to the Library's invitation. He conveyed to them the greetings of King Fahd Bin Abdul-Aziz, and affirmed the bases and pillars of dialogue, saying: “This is what we seek with human and cultural awareness, until the world sees us and we see the world so that the world comes to understand the virtues and humanity of Islam. We are your brothers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, both king and people. We do not want to live with racism or nationalism. We do not want to have a political position that we have not been familiar with throughout our in history. For thousands of years, the only values that unjust nations have scattered throughout history, whether east or west, have been those of political paralysis and unbridled adventurism. By contrast, we have striven to think calmly, accepting and giving sincere advice. A nation or nations whose power is not accompanied by justice and political awareness remains the target of divers scourges, psychological diseases and senility. This is what both historians and history say in all eras. We in the Kingdom, both leadership and the people, are well aware that our security, prosperity, stability and unity lie in discussing every development and where possible and desirable rebutting it with something better. We do not dream dreams of vigilance or hasten events to our house. This is what we want for others as well, for what is going on today in our dear Palestine, and what the world is experiencing of horrors, disasters, and outrages against truth and justice, is really no more than a daydream of greatness in those who shed blood by the bucketful, destroy civilization and cheat historical facts. This is a thorny path that does not give its people safety. It sows hatred and disrupts security. How ignorant is anybody who sees all this and does not return once again to history to let it remind him that the end of the oppressor is with the oppressed. I say this, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia says it with me, as both king and people, and the world also chooses to say it: Let us keep ourselves safe from sedition and the fallout of events so that this sensitive region may be kept stable and safe from disasters. Even so, what God chooses is the choice that will prevail. The Arab peace initiative was never a high-handed move decided on my own, and in fact even now it is on its way to our Arab brothers and leaders. When it reaches them, the final opinion is up to them and their peoples. It is a sincere and humble move, and also a hope that will be judged by the future. I hope that it will not falter in the battles of blood and destruction, and that the parties will agree on it, for force of arms is the most dangerous thing that causes nations to lose their power. The most powerful and effective weapon is justice. I say this, and I say again that Israel has no security except through justice, and by removing its hand from the rights of the Palestinian people and of some Arab countries. It will be held to account by a more effective weapon, namely the just support of all the nations of the earth, today or in our future. Unjust arms will condemn it, saying: There is no security for Israel apart from justice, and the return of all legitimate historical Arab rights, for this sensitive region is the home of divine messages and the divine example, and it is never acceptable to be unjust. You are the lights that illuminate the psychological darkness. How splendid is your steadfastness if your civilizational dialogue takes you beyond the psychological twilight which makes it impossible to see God’s great signs in these scientific discoveries from this far-flung universe. How needy is this far-flung universe of scientific discoveries and how needy are the peoples of the world of scientists, intellectuals and writers. Our thoughts are always with this group of people. They are our hope after God, and the hope of the world is that they be protectors of truth and justice.” Then the UN Secretary-General delivered a speech, in which he emphasized that UN programs seek to bring about dialogue among different civilizations and cultures, and bring security and peace to the countries of the world. Then the Secretary-General of the Islamic World Association addressed the Symposium, followed by the Secretary-General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, and the Director-General of the Library. The programmes and efforts of these international organizations were all presented in support of inter-civilizational dialogue. The three themes of the Symposium (Civilizations: Conflict or dialogue?, Islam and Other Civilizations, Contemporary Civilization, Experiences and Practices) were presented over 17 sessions in which more than 90 intellectuals participated, representing more than 20 nationalities, all organized into a scientific and cultural demonstration to discuss and investigate one of the most prominent issues of the age, namely Islam and Inter-Civilizational Dialogue. Various working papers were presented, including: - The efforts of the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques to promote Inter-Civilizational Dialogue by establishing cultural and Islamic centres abroad; - The position of Islam on terrorism; - Tolerance in Islam; - Islam's relationship with the West ... A look ahead; - The Relationship between East and West. At the end of the Symposium, the participants expressed their deep and sincere thanks to Prince Abdullah for his generous sponsorship of culture and intellectuals... They greatly valued the visions and the mature ideas that he presented in the service of the Arab and Muslim cause… The question of Palestine was received with great sympathy and resonated widely, and came at a time when the nation, and indeed the world, was in such great need of such a knowledgeable presentation. Recommendations of the Symposium: 1. The speech of King Fahd Bin Abdel-Aziz (the sponsor of the Symposium) should be regarded as a document for dialogue and peaceful co-existence among civilizations. 2. A long-term strategy should be drawn up to achieve dialogue among civilizations and cultures through the use of modern technology to strengthen this civilizational dialogue and encourage translation in this area. 3. Islamic meetings with other civilizations should be intensified to examine issues of mutual interest in order to formulate common understandings regarding them and to free souls and minds from the impact of the historical conflict among civilizations. 4. Effective peaceful international efforts should be exerted to solve the major complex and chronic problems of regions where violence is generated and continues to grow. 5. The importance of religious, spiritual and moral values should be stressed in order to achieve human dignity and establish justice, and to achieve secure co-existence among human societies, safe from disasters, poverty, ignorance and moral degradation. 6. A spirit of tolerance, equality and solidarity should be spread, and respect for cultural diversity along with the specificities of individual peoples. 7. Increased attention should be given to religious and ethnic minorities and the victims of wars and disasters. 8. There should be a focus on education and a culture of dialogue should be promoted, since it is the best way to achieve mutual knowledge among societies. 9. Scientists, researchers and academics in universities and research centres should be encouraged to carry out field and applied research on inter-civilizational dialogue and to link it with the scientific activity of faculty and researchers. 10. There should be an emphasis on holding high-quality conferences, book exhibitions and global think-tanks and, thereby contributing to the enrichment of interaction between peoples' civilizations and cultures. 11. The Library should adopt the establishment of a global forum for inter-civilizational dialogue, aimed at achieving dialogue between the Islamic civilization and other nations' civilizations and peoples. -12 The King Abdul-Aziz Public Library should form a committee to follow up the Symposium’s recommendations, implement them, and undertake to print the conference papers and publish them as a volume of proceedings.