Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) has opened a permanent exhibition of National Library publications. Housed in the National Library's Al Nahyan Camp headquarters, the exhibition features titles from all TCA Abu Dhabi's publishing projects, including print and audio books and encyclopaedic works.

National Library publications include books on literature, heritage and various scientific disciplines, both in Arabic and English.

These resources have been published through a range of initiatives such as the Kalima translation project, which leads the way in the translation of classical and modern books from a choice of world languages into Arabic; the Qalam project, which fosters local literary talent in the United Arab Emirates by publishing their work and translating it into other languages; and the Poetry Academy, which puts out poetry collections as well as research, critical and documentary studies.

"This project expands readers' access to books and gives all across the emirate the opportunity to explore the world of knowledge," said Mubarak Hamad Al Muhairi, Director General of TCA Abu Dhabi, which manages the National Library.

"Abu Dhabi's publishing industry is evolving rapidly and the National Library's published works are equally expanding in volume and scope, with new publications covering even more diverse cultural fields," added Al Muhairi.

Besides promoting reading and offering book loan options, the permanent exhibition sells books at reasonable prices. National Library products are already on sale at 125 retail points across the UAE and in more than 500 others retail points internationally.

National Library publications are also showcased in some of the most prestigious regional and international book fairs, where the library directly interacts with readers, publishers and writers around the world.

"Readers can review all the National Library publications on its website and become familiar with its online purchasing procedure," said Jumaa Al Qubaisi, Director of the National Library.

"A number of cultural and scientific institutions have joined us online, in addition to authors, writers, university professors, students and different professionals from the UAE and further afield," he pointed out.

The National Library regularly updates its collection of key reference works, research and scientific studies, dictionaries, encyclopaedias and lexicons. It also consistently acquires new titles that delve into such disciplines as history, geography, economy, politics, social sciences and letters to ensure that the latest findings and information is to its expanding client base.

The library also buys titles dealing with the Gulf region in general and the UAE in particular, as well as works on major Arabic and world literature figures.

The National Library also caters to the needs of a range of professionals, including engineers, doctors and economists as well as providing research tools for college students and faculty at Zayed University, Abu Dhabi University, Ajman University, the Higher Colleges of Technology and Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi.

The National Library has recently expanded its outlet footprint with the opening of a branch in Al Ain last month and the launch, in March of the UAE and Arabian Gulf Library in Abu Dhabi's Corniche area (fourth floor of the RAK Bank building.)

The National Library headquarters is open seven days a week: 8am to 10pm from Sunday to Thursday; 5pm to 8pm on Fridays; and 9am to 1pm and 5pm to 8pm on Saturdays.