Sharjah Public Libraries presented its AI-driven digitisation model for preserving over 18 million knowledge resources at an international seminar in Portugal, highlighting global heritage collaboration.
SHARJAH NEWS – WAM
Sharjah has showcased its globally recognized approach to preserving documentary heritage through artificial intelligence and advanced digitisation technologies, presenting a model that has helped safeguard more than 18 million knowledge resources during an international seminar in Portugal.
Representing Sharjah Public Libraries (SPL), Director Eman Bushlaibi addressed international experts at the seminar, “Digitising Historical Libraries in the Age of Artificial Intelligence,” hosted by the University of Coimbra. Her presentation highlighted how the emirate has combined cutting-edge technology, international partnerships, and long-term cultural planning to protect rare manuscripts while expanding access for researchers, students, and the public.
Bushlaibi explained that successful digitisation extends far beyond scanning historical documents. She said preserving documentary heritage requires an integrated ecosystem built on high-resolution imaging, scholarly cataloging, sustainable digital infrastructure, and the expertise of librarians and archivists to maintain the historical integrity of collections.
“Artificial intelligence can accelerate access to knowledge, but it cannot replace the expertise of librarians and specialists in cataloging, verification, scholarly description, and preserving the historical context of manuscripts,” Bushlaibi said.
She noted that many of the world’s rare manuscripts and historical records remain vulnerable because they are fragile or difficult to access. Digitisation, she said, protects original materials by reducing physical handling while making invaluable knowledge available to scholars worldwide.
Bushlaibi credited the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, for transforming the emirate into a global cultural and knowledge hub. She said this vision has helped establish internationally recognized initiatives, including Sharjah’s designation as UNESCO World Book Capital 2019, the Sharjah International Library Conference and the Sharjah Library Literature Award.
During the seminar, Bushlaibi identified four major challenges facing large-scale digitisation projects: the technical complexity of preserving historical Arabic manuscripts, securing sustainable funding and governance, preventing biases from being embedded into digital collections, and ensuring long-term accessibility as technologies evolve.
She emphasized that lasting success depends on institutional collaboration as much as technological innovation.
To demonstrate Sharjah’s achievements, Bushlaibi highlighted several flagship projects. Among them is the Biblioteca Ambrosiana initiative in Milan, Italy, which aims to digitise more than 2,500 rare Arabic manuscripts—some over 450 years old—under a cooperation agreement signed in 2021.
She also showcased the Joanina Library project at the University of Coimbra, one of the region’s largest digitisation efforts. Running through 2031, the initiative encompasses approximately 18 million digital images and around 30,000 historic volumes.
Closer to home, Bushlaibi highlighted the University of Khorfakkan manuscript preservation project, which began with 30 manuscripts and has expanded into a second phase in partnership with the Sharjah House of Manuscripts. The collection has undergone conservation, cleaning and scholarly cataloguing before being integrated into an advanced digital platform featuring image searches, text searches and augmented reality capabilities.
Bushlaibi said Sharjah’s model is built on partnerships that respect the scholarly ownership and custodianship of heritage collections while providing strategic funding, governance and technical expertise to ensure their preservation for future generations.
The presentation reinforced Sharjah’s growing role as an international leader in digital heritage preservation and demonstrated how artificial intelligence, when combined with expert scholarship and sustainable planning, can help protect the world’s cultural memory while making it more accessible than ever.
