NLB Saudi Arabia Cultural Mission Collaboration

The Saudi Arabia Cultural Mission in Singapore and the National Library Board signed a Memorandum of Understanding in September 2012 to provide a framework for closer collaboration between Saudi Arabia and Singapore.

The Saudi Arabia Cultural Mission in Singapore was open in 2008 under the umbrella of the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Singapore to strengthen the friendly relations between Saudi Arabia and Singapore. Since its establishment, the Cultural Mission has organised more than 10 cultural visits between the two countries and supported numerous cultural and educational events by Singapore. The Cultural Mission has also facilitated joint scientific research between the universities of both countries.

Building on these warm ties and mutual exchanges, the Saudi Arabia Cultural Mission (SACM) and the National Library Board (NLB) of Singapore signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in September 2012 to provide a framework for closer collaboration. This tie-up will see a collection of 200 publications donated to NLB by SACM. To mark the start of this partnership, a series of programmes for the public is organised to showcase the arts and culture of Saudi Arabia. The activities run from September 2012 to August 2013, and are jointly curated by the Saudi Arabia Cultural Office and NLB. This synergy serves to promote greater sharing of resources, expertise and networks for content creation on Saudi Arabia. The proposed line-up of events is planned around significant occasions such as, Saudi Arabia Day, Saudi Arabia’s Student Day, the International Summit of the Book and the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) World Library and Information Congress (WLIC).

Objectives of Donated Collection

• To show the diverse and fascinating crafts, arts, music, customs, and traditions of Saudi Arabia

• To present to readers the rich history and heritage of Saudi Arabia, including the country’s pre-Islamic history

• To introduce some of the unique places and landmarks in Saudi Arabia

• To give an academic overview of the country

• To provide information on Saudi Arabia to those who wish to visit and learn more about the country

Genres and Subjects in the Collection

The Saudi Arabia collection covers the following genres:

1 Children’s fiction

The children’s fiction collection comprises books for readers of all ages, with genres ranging from fantasy to adventure. A highly acclaimed book in the collection is Let’s play by Halla Bint Khalid who is also the first Saudi female author and illustrator.

2 Adult fiction

The collection comprises novels which include the best in literature and fantasy.

3 Autobiography and biography

These include new and bestselling works of Saudi leaders and prominent figures.

4 Arts, culture and photography

This category consists of books on the arts, history and culture of Saudi Arabia, as well as photographic works on Saudi Arabia.

5 Academic journals

The journals cover topics on Science and Technology, Medicine, Political Science, Social Science, Education, Public Administration, Environment, Islam, History, Design and Architecture, Geography, Psychology, Economics, and Language & Literature.

This article is contributed by the Saudi Arabia Cultural Mission, Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Singapore.