Ahwal Al-Marifa – Special

The King Abdulaziz Public Library initiative to hold the "First Reading Clubs Forum" reinforces the importance of reading and its role in human and cognitive construction. Reading is the basis for forming the individual and society because the flow of all kinds of knowledge does not stop, forming a core element in building nations and peoples. The forum, held on February 10, 2024, with representatives of reading clubs from all regions of Saudi Arabia, aimed to exchange experiences and build fruitful relationships to enhance culture in society. The forum highlighted that the value of reading is one of the most influential today, despite the spread of technology. The book remains the primary source of knowledge. There are 50-60 reading clubs in the Kingdom, including: "Be a Reader" in Riyadh (est. 2019, 93 members), the "April 23rd Club" in Madinah (100 members), and the "Hayat Reading Club" in Taif. The "Afaq Reading Club" spreads across Jeddah, Riyadh, Yanbu, Khobar, Hail, and Abha with 130 members. The "Jalees Cultural Initiative" in Tabuk has 120 members. The "Madinah Reading Club" (est. 2018) has 150 members. The "Ithra Reading Club" serves as a literary forum for youth. The "Reading Club" at King Saudi University, under the slogan "We Read to Build a Nation," has over 146,000 followers on X (formerly Twitter). The "Kenz Reading Club" for women in the Eastern Province promotes regular reading and critical thinking. These clubs also organize seminars, poetry evenings, and book signings, fostering human interaction to reach knowledge.