Muscat— The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth today organized a dialogue session titled “Culture, Library Sciences, and Sustainable Development" as part of the “Civilizational Horizons" programme.
The session addressed the challenges libraries face in the wake of the digital revolution and the widespread use of the internet, exploring how libraries have adapted to these transformations to provide reliable information beyond geographical constraints. It also highlighted their growing role in supporting education, scientific research, and innovation.
The discussion touched on the strong connection between culture, library sciences, and information, emphasising the role of libraries as cultural institutions that have historically enriched human civilisation while promoting values of pluralism, tolerance, and freedom of expression.
The session also shed light on the vital role libraries play in achieving sustainable development goals by organising knowledge and managing vast intellectual output through smart systems that keep pace with technological advancements.
Additionally, the session explored how libraries contribute to advancing artificial intelligence models, leveraging their extensive databases, and their role in training users to utilize these technologies to produce reliable and well-researched content.
Discussions also covered the state of library and information sciences in the Sultanate of Oman, the national information strategy, and digital transformation under “Oman Vision 2040", along with key challenges facing the library sector in the country.
The session further reviewed investment opportunities in cultural and creative industries and the role of libraries in this field.
