Mohammed bin Rashid Library, the newly inaugurated cultural beacon located in Dubai, will be the first of its kind to use artificial intelligence (AI) in its operations, including choosing titles and borrowing and returning books. A large section of the library’s first floor is dedicated to automated storage and electronic book retrieval. Over one million titles are housed within, and a first-of-its-kind smart system in the Middle East region allows robots to locate books and deliver them to readers wherever they are in the seven floors of the library.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, inaugurated the library, which is preparing to open its doors on Thursday. Creating a conducive environment in the UAE that caters to all community segments, particularly schools and university students, will strengthen the country’s image as a culture and innovation hub in the region.
The library is the first in the region to have a comprehensive AI system. This system streamlines the process of selecting titles, reading, borrowing, and returning books by reducing the need for human staff. The library houses paperback and digital books on a variety of topics, including languages, geography, philosophy, health, mathematics, self-development and literature, as well as fiction, available in both Arabic and English, he added.