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Dubai to build world's largest e-library

Xinhua, November 19, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum has issued here on Friday a law to establish a one billion dirham (USD 272 million) library with two million e-books, making it the world's largest electronic collection, UAE state news agency WAM reported.

A board, which will have to plan the construction of the library, will also be drawing up general policies and strategic plans required to deliver the library's objectives. Renderings of the planned library indicate that its architecture will have the shape of a book.

Spreading over one million square feet, the facility will include eight specialized libraries, can accommodate 42 million visitors annually and will host over 100 annual cultural events.

''We want this library to serve as a cultural forum, an incubator for knowledge and a civilization centre in the region,'' said His Highness Sheikh Mohammed. The announcement marks the culmination of the UAE government's program "2016 -- the year of reading." Endit