Educators from across the Arab world have gathered in Riyadh to learn about the most important technological innovations available to national, public and academic libraries.

The conference, entitled ‘Modern Developments in Libraries, Aspirations and Leading Experience,’ is the first of its kind to be held in the kingdom, aimed at meeting demand from the country’s educational institutions for world-class innovations in the library sector.

The academics, researchers, educators and librarians heard about the latest research that will help improve library infrastructure and library services.

The case studies and examples were drawn from the Arabia region, as well as the US and Europe.

The conference is aimed at helping Saudi Arabia’s academic libraries exploit newly available technology, helping to create world-class educational institutions that support educational processes and scientific research.

Pearson, the world’s largest education provider, sponsored the event, showcasing its digital repository system, Equella which is used by educational institutions, corporations, governments and universities worldwide, including London University, Australia’s TAFE colleges, and Hamdan bin Mohammed e-University in Saudi Arabia.

Dalia Leil, Pearson’s digital solutions specialist in Saudi Arabia, said: “Pearson is thrilled to support this inaugural library event in Saudi Arabia, which is helping to put the Kingdom on the map for innovation in the library sector. Having efficient and effective library services is essential to providing world-class education and research facilities, and is therefore a priority for colleges and universities in this region as they advance their education sectors.

“Equella can assist in this process, enabling collections to be securely stored, while managing controlled access for specific users and groups and incorporating specific security settings. The repository also integrates with existing library management systems, providing additional value and functionality to a library’s existing infrastructure.” - TradeArabia News Service