Mohammed Bin Rashid Library and Al Wasl University launched the First International Conference on Library and Information Sciences

In a move aimed at elaborating the future of library and information science and keeping pace with the rapid developments in this field, the Mohammed bin Rashid Library, in partnership with Al -Wasl University, organizes the first international conference for library and information sciences entitled “Library Science and Information in the Academic Map between the challenges of artificial intelligence and data science”, under The slogan “The Future of Knowledge Workers” over the course of Wednesday and Thursday, 29 and 30 January, with its main theater.

The conference witnesses the participation of a group of experts, academics and those interested in library and information science, to discuss innovative solutions and exchange ideas on how to face the challenges of digital transformation and enhance the efficiency of workers in this vital field.

Dr. Mohammed Salem Al Mazrouei, a member of the Board of Directors of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Library Foundation, said: “Since the establishment of our library, we have set up our priorities and within our strategy to be a forum for the industry and sustainability of the future of the public libraries sector and their development, through joint cooperation in organizing and hosting local, regional and international conferences, Which certainly contributes to the exit with recommendations that would contribute to keeping pace with the transformations taking place in the library and information sector in light of the accelerated development of artificial intelligence techniques.

He continued: «The first international conference on library and information sciences is an extension of this vision and thought, and it constitutes a unique platform that brings together experts, researchers and decision makers, aimed at formulating recommendations and practical proposals that contribute to drawing a future map for the library and information sector, in addition to setting a flexible and renewable vision that supports all initiatives that establish The role and status of knowledge in our societies, and supports facing the challenges imposed by artificial intelligence techniques on this pioneering sector.

For his part, Prof. Dr. Mohamed Ahmed Abdel Rahman, Director of Al -Wasl University, said: “The organization of this conference comes in response to an urgent need to deal with the huge amount of information and data using artificial intelligence techniques that have become a living and future reality, and we support to sustain and spread knowledge, especially in library sciences And information, which is an urgent future advisory vision, confirms the leadership of the UAE in using artificial intelligence techniques to achieve the well -being of knowledge and the management and investment of information and data, in a way that benefits workers in the field of libraries and information in particular, and on the UAE community in general.

The conference includes 5 scientific sessions that discuss various aspects of artificial intelligence in libraries and information, in addition to an introductory session that reviews the reality of libraries in the United Arab Emirates with the participation of the most prominent office institutions in the country such as the library and the national archive in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah General Libraries and the Juma Al -Majid Center for Heritage and Culture and the Emirates Association for Public Libraries, With a session that highlights the experience of the Mohammed bin Rashid Library in the public libraries sector.

Through its first edition, the conference seeks to encourage the use of artificial intelligence and data science in library and information programs and institutions, and to explore strategies and plans of library and information programs and institutions to activate artificial intelligence and data science, in addition to reviewing the best practices and resources available in the field of artificial intelligence used in the education of library sciences and institutions Information, and enhancing awareness of the role of artificial intelligence technologies and data science, and the technologies associated with them in the programs and institutions of libraries and information, as well as to anticipate the future of library and information science education in light of artificial intelligence technology and data science and their impact on workers in library and information professionals.

The conference will discuss four main axes dealing with artificial intelligence and data science in library and information programs and institutions, the employment of artificial intelligence applications and the foundations of data science in the academic programs for library and information sciences, the employment of artificial intelligence applications and the foundations of data science in library and information institutions, and professional repercussions to activate the role of artificial intelligence and data science In library and information programs and institutions.