Laura Beals D’Elia is the Library Teacher at the Armstrong Elementary School in Westborough.
Each year, ALA partners with the Sharjah International Book Fair and Sharjah International Library Conference in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates to send two American school librarians to present at the conference as a way to bridge cultures and share best practices. This past November, Andrea Trudeau @Andrea_Trudeau and I were honored to represent the United States as the two school librarians. We could feel the weight of this honor as we followed in the footsteps of school librarians such as Sherry Gick @sherryngick, Andy Plemmons @plemmonsa, Todd Burleson @todd_burleson, and MSLA’s very own Wendy Garland @dancelibrarian.
There is so much to say. Summarizing or condensing this experience feels impossible, yet I will try. In 1990, Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop wrote about the idea that books can be “Mirrors, Windows, or Sliding Glass Doors.” Once I stepped foot off the plane in Dubai, it was obvious to me that this concept could also apply to experiences and I wondered where I would find mirrors and where would I find windows?
There is so much to say. Summarizing or condensing this experience feels impossible, yet I will try. In 1990, Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop wrote about the idea that books can be “Mirrors, Windows, or Sliding Glass Doors.” Once I stepped foot off the plane in Dubai, it was obvious to me that this concept could also apply to experiences and I wondered where I would find mirrors and where would I find windows?
The Country
The United Arab Emirates is a country with a lot of forward-thinking innovation and philosophies amidst a strong connection to tradition and the past. In Dubai, there is a structure known as the Dubai Frame. It was built as a way to connect the past with the future. When you stand on one side and look through the frame, you are looking at old Dubai. When you stand on the other side and look through, you are looking at modern Dubai. I found this structure to be the perfect metaphor for this experience.
The United Arab Emirates is a country with a lot of forward-thinking innovation and philosophies amidst a strong connection to tradition and the past. In Dubai, there is a structure known as the Dubai Frame. It was built as a way to connect the past with the future. When you stand on one side and look through the frame, you are looking at old Dubai. When you stand on the other side and look through, you are looking at modern Dubai. I found this structure to be the perfect metaphor for this experience.
What immediately surprised me the most about the UAE was that everything was in both Arabic and English, even the Dewey decimal signs! Since the UAE’s culture is very different from the United States’s culture, I was not expecting English to be so prevalent. However, just about everyone spoke English and were more than gracious in answering our many questions about the country and the culture.
What was also surprising was that none of the cities were walkable like Boston. Andrea and I found that out the hard way when we thought it would be no problem to walk the 1.3 miles to the Arabian Gulf coast from our hotel in Sharjah. We did make it eventually but it was a bit questionable at times. There were too many highways, construction, and no sidewalks!
Even the Sharjah Public Library was located out in the expansive edges of the city where it was impossible to walk to. Patrons must take transportation to get there which might explain why the library felt too quiet and empty when we visited. However, the library had impressive technology which reflects the country’s commitment to innovation.
We also found ourselves intrigued by the Islamic call to prayers. No matter where we were, walking around in the city, in our hotel room, or in the public library, five times a day we could hear loud and clear the call to prayer being broadcast from the nearest mosque as a reminder to pray. We knew that prayer was a very important part of the Islamic religion yet did not understand how integral it is to daily life until we saw it (or heard it).
We also found ourselves intrigued by the Islamic call to prayers. No matter where we were, walking around in the city, in our hotel room, or in the public library, five times a day we could hear loud and clear the call to prayer being broadcast from the nearest mosque as a reminder to pray. We knew that prayer was a very important part of the Islamic religion yet did not understand how integral it is to daily life until we saw it (or heard it).
The Sharjah International Book Fair
The United Arab Emirates prides itself on its commitment to literacy and knowledge. Here is an excerpt from the SIBF’s web site:
“The 38th edition of Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) concluded yesterday (Saturday) after a record turnout of 2.52 million visitors through the 11-day event. Organised by Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) under the Sharjah World Book Capital 2019 theme 'Open Books… Open Minds', the event witnessed participation of Nobel laureates, Booker Prize and Oscar winners, along with 2,000 publishers from 81 countries.”
The United Arab Emirates prides itself on its commitment to literacy and knowledge. Here is an excerpt from the SIBF’s web site:
“The 38th edition of Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) concluded yesterday (Saturday) after a record turnout of 2.52 million visitors through the 11-day event. Organised by Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) under the Sharjah World Book Capital 2019 theme 'Open Books… Open Minds', the event witnessed participation of Nobel laureates, Booker Prize and Oscar winners, along with 2,000 publishers from 81 countries.”
Every morning, students from all over the country were bussed in to attend the Book Fair. Not only were students buying books but they also enjoyed youth programming, author events, food stalls (oh, the food stalls!), and live entertainment. It almost felt like hanging out at the mall! When we commented on how great it was that students were brought to the Book Fair to participate, we were told that it is the only field trip students get all year but the students are given money to spend at the book fair.
The United Arab Emirates likes to be the first, best, tallest, greatest. It is a form of pride for the country to excel in many areas (something we in the United States can understand). This was seen at the Book Fair when Andrea and I were walking around noticing that a large number of long tables and chairs were being set up through the aisles of the Book Fair. We were quite puzzled as there wasn’t a whole lot of room in those aisles. We later found out that that evening the Book Fair was attempting to break the Guinness World Record for the largest number of authors signing books at the same time. They did it, too! I’m sure it was a spectacle to behold!
“On November 7, SIBF set a Guinness World Record for successfully hosting the world’s largest simultaneous book signing ceremony in one location with 1,502 authors from the UAE and beyond signing their own books. SIBF broke the previous record held by Turkey.” https://www.sibf.com/en/newsdetails?itemId=42852
“On November 7, SIBF set a Guinness World Record for successfully hosting the world’s largest simultaneous book signing ceremony in one location with 1,502 authors from the UAE and beyond signing their own books. SIBF broke the previous record held by Turkey.” https://www.sibf.com/en/newsdetails?itemId=42852
The Sharjah International Library Conference
While the Book Fair took place over two weeks, the Sharjah International Library Conference happened for three of those days. Andrea and I presented each day as part of the school library strand throughout the conference. We offered a full-day, pre-conference workshop titled, “Building Empathy Through Your Collection and Curriculum.” I discussed diverse books and Andrea shared her work with augmented and virtual reality. We also presented on “Transforming Your Library” where we shared many ideas in a quick fire format. Finally, I did a short session on Guided Inquiry Design. Andrea and I have lots of experience presenting but we were challenged on how to build a presentation when everything you do and say needs to be translated. We both like to include interactive activities, small group discussions, and exploration time into our presentations. While some of that could work with translators, some of it couldn’t.
While the Book Fair took place over two weeks, the Sharjah International Library Conference happened for three of those days. Andrea and I presented each day as part of the school library strand throughout the conference. We offered a full-day, pre-conference workshop titled, “Building Empathy Through Your Collection and Curriculum.” I discussed diverse books and Andrea shared her work with augmented and virtual reality. We also presented on “Transforming Your Library” where we shared many ideas in a quick fire format. Finally, I did a short session on Guided Inquiry Design. Andrea and I have lots of experience presenting but we were challenged on how to build a presentation when everything you do and say needs to be translated. We both like to include interactive activities, small group discussions, and exploration time into our presentations. While some of that could work with translators, some of it couldn’t.
We found out that the participants for our full-day, pre-conference workshop were mostly recipients of the School Librarian of the Year Award from all over the country from current and previous years (pictured above). What an honor! They were so warm, welcoming, and curious about everything we shared. And they made us feel like celebrities when they all wanted photos with us after the workshop!
We were grateful for the opportunity to talk with some local school librarians and to share ideas and best practices. Being a librarian in the UAE is not as different as you would expect. They, too, have challenges with students, administrators, schedules, staff, and support. One conversation sticks in my mind, however. We were talking to a school librarian who works in an American school in Dubai and he outright told us that he censors, “It is my job to rip out pages and black out words.” That shocked me at first as it goes against everything that I stand for as a librarian. However, the culture of the country in which he works is very different in so many ways. Schools are watched and monitored closely to ensure that “anti-Muslim sentiment does not occur,” even in American schools. But it made me think about what it truly means to be a librarian. We all have to work within the confines and restrictions presented to us. I haven’t known a school librarian job where I didn’t have restrictions and challenges. One thing was quite clear, however: the school librarians in the UAE passionately want their students to be readers, critical thinkers, and global citizens as much as we do.
What have I left out? Well, the desert tour, the camel ride, the sunset over the dunes, the Burj Al Khalifa, the indoor ski slope, the falafels and shawarma (oh, the shawarma!), meeting ALA president Wanda Kay Brown, the reception at the home of the U.S. Consulate General of Dubai, Sheik Zayed Grand Mosque, the souks (markets) and the boat ride, the calligraphy museum and Old Historic Sharjah, the chocolate made from camel’s milk, the many beautiful Arabic picture books at the Book Fair, and finally (and fondly) umali which is similar to a bread pudding that tastes like baklava but looks like oatmeal and also has a great story to go with it!) Not enough time to share it all.
Experience of a lifetime? That’s a loud and resounding yes! I am grateful for this experience and I am honored to share the mirrors and windows of this experience with you.
Shukran
شكرا
Thank you
Shukran
شكرا
Thank you