Community libraries forum begins on Oct 5

MUSCAT: The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth will organise a forum for community libraries and cultural centres from October 5 to 8. The event will focus on fostering knowledge-based partnerships as a cornerstone for enhancing the performance of these institutions.
The forum seeks to expand areas of cooperation, facilitate the exchange of expertise and utilise available resources to improve services and activities in a manner that enhances the role of these institutions in society.
The forum is themed 'Partners in Knowledge Empowerment and Building Community Identity', reflecting a commitment to foster integration and partnership between the ministry and community libraries and cultural centres. It aims to enhance the role of these institutions in the cultural and intellectual landscape, provide a platform for dialogue and the exchange of expertise and explore ways to upgrade the quality of services and programmes to keep pace with developments in the sector of knowledge and culture.
The programme of the forum will include two workshops, the first of which, titled 'Building Knowledge Partnerships and Developing Initiatives and Concepts', will lay emphasis on honing the skills of participants in forging partnerships, formulating initiatives and converting ideas into practical applications that advance cultural and knowledge-based activities.
The second workshop focuses on the role of transparency in realising the efficient management of resources. It will be in coordination with Oman Vision 2040 Implementation Follow-up Unit and the State Financial and Administrative Audit Authority.
In its closing ceremony, the forum will see the announcement of the names of winners of the 2026 Excellence Award for Community Libraries and Cultural Centres. Now in its 5th edition, this year’s competition, titled 'Digital Innovation Award for Community Libraries and Cultural Centres', aims to encourage institutions to use digital technologies for enhancing their services and activities, while at the same time generating new methods to benefit members of the public. - ONA