Doha, December 15 (QNA) - Qatar National Library (QNL), in cooperation with the Arab Book Award, hosted a cultural seminar titled "The Arab Book Industry in General, and the Qatari Book in Particular: A Forward-Looking Reading," on the occasion of the World Arabic Language Day, celebrated annually on December 18.

In his opening remarks, HE Minister of State and President of QNL Dr. Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kawari highlighted Arabic books' deep roots and drew a connection between the authenticity of Arab heritage and future aspirations for Arabic books.

 Moderated by Professor of Arabic Language at Qatar University Dr. Mohammed Al Rahawi, the seminar saw member of the Steering Committee of the Arab Book Award, Dr. Al Siddiq Omar, speak about quality standards, pointing out that most Arab authorship tends toward narrative writing and novels, amid limited interest in academic studies on the humanities, dictionaries, and encyclopedias.

In turn, winner of the 1st edition of the Arab Book Award, academic and historian Dr. Mustafa Aqil Al Khatib said that winning an award is an important incentive for writers and authors, adding that it does not represent a constraint on creativity.

Regarding the decline in reading among younger generations, Dr. Al Khatib stressed that responsibility is shared among the family, society, and young people themselves, emphasizing the importance of raising children on respect for language and books from an early age, thereby helping to foster cultural awareness and strengthen their relationship with reading.

CEO of Rosa Publishing House Dr. Aisha Jassim Al Kuwari affirmed that the Arabic book industry faces challenges beyond production figures, crossing over to include distribution, impact, and sustainability.

Dr. Al Kuwari noted that the industry consists of an integrated ecosystem encompassing writers, publishers, readers, and supportive cultural policies.

She pointed out that the most prominent challenges include limited distribution, high production costs, and declining reading rates, especially among younger generations, which necessitates restructuring the publishing ecosystem without compromising the quality of Arab creative output.

Dr. Al Kuwari pointed out that Qatar's experience offers a model for the book industry thanks to cultural policies and knowledge institutions.

She emphasized the importance of digital transformation as an opportunity to build a hybrid publishing model that combines print and digital books.

The CEO of Rosa Publishing House also underscored the role of cultural awards, including the Arab Book Award, in raising content quality and supporting writers and publishers, stressing that the future of the Arab book industry depends on building the reader and enhancing cultural value and impact. (QNA)