From manuscripts to algorithms: The evolution of libraries and the impact of information technology on children's libraries in the Arab world

This article examines the evolution of libraries over the centuries, from information organization in the ancient Library of Alexandria and the Medieval manuscript catalogs, through the printing revolution and Dewey Decimal Classification, to the technological transformations of the 20-th century. e. g. microfilming, MARC system, and the OCLC Consortium. With the advent of the digital revolution, libraries have adopted integrated management systems and electronic catalogs and begun offering online services, which offers wider access to information though mounts new challenges related to copyright and digital collection management.  In the Arab world, the digital initiatives and efforts in the countries such as the UAE, Qatar, Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan, Iraq and Syria are aimed at transformation of children's libraries into intelligent interactive platforms powered by modern technologies such as artificial intelligence and augmented reality. Despite the challenges related to digital inequality and infrastructure, these initiatives stand out as innovative models for improving children's literacy and skills development. The article highlights that the integration of technology into libraries is a strategic imperative to keep pace with global developments while ensuring equitable and inclusive access for all children, enhancing the role of libraries as knowledge custodians and interactive learning platforms in the future.

1. Al Jazeera. For the Love of Books: Mobile Libraries Around the World. 2018. URL: https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2018/4/23/for-the-love-of-books-mobile- libraries-around-the-world (accessed: 01.05.2025).

2. Al-Kaabi M., Al-Malki A. Digital Divide in the Gulf: Challenges and Opportunities for Educational Technology in Qatar // Middle East Journal of Educational Technology. 2022. Т. 14, № 3. Р. 189–204.

3. Almarri K., Alneyadi S. Digital Libraries in the UAE: Accessibility and Challenges // International Journal of Information Studies. 2023. Т. 15, № 4. Р. 231–245.

4. Al-Zoubi A., Al-Khasawneh M. Digital Transformation in Jordanian Education: Opportunities and Barriers // Jordan Journal of Educational Sciences. 2022. Т. 18, № 4. Р. 567–582.

5. Avram H. D. MARC: Its History and Implications. Washington : Library of Congress, 1975.

6. Baker N. Double Fold: Libraries and the Assault on Paper. New York : Random House, 2001. URL: https://archive.org/details/doublefoldlibrar0000bake (accessed: 15.05.2025).

7. Bates M. J. Information Behavior // Encyclopedia of Library and Information Sciences. Boca Raton, FL : CRC Press, 2017. P. 2074–2085. URL: https://infocom.hyperlib.sjsu.edu/wpcontent/uploads/2019/07/information_behavior_bates.pdf (accessed: 15.05.2025).

8. Battles M. Library: An Unquiet History. New York : W. W. Norton, 2003.

9. Borgman C. L. From Gutenberg to the Global Information Infrastructure: Access to Information in the Networked World. Cambridge, Mass. : MIT Press, 2000.

10. Corrado E. M., Moulaison H. L. Digital Preservation for Libraries, Archives, and Museums. Lanham, Md. : Rowman & Littlefield, 2017.

11. Effectiveness of a community-led shared book reading intervention in Syrian refugee children: a randomised controlled trial / Hadfield K., Al-Hamad M., Dajani R. et al. // Scientific Reports. 2024. Vol. 14, № 1. 8 р. DOI 10.1038/s41598-024-68903-9.

12. Hassan M., Elmasry S. Digital Education in the Arab World: Opportunities and Infrastructure Challenges. // Journal of Educational Technology in Developing Countries. 2022. Т. 10, № 2. P. 123–137.

13. International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA). Global Vision Report. The Hague : IFLA, 2018. URL: https://www.ifla.org/global-vision-report/ (accessed: 15.05.2025).

14. International Organization for Migration (IOM) Iraq. Mobile Libraries Bring Hope to Displaced Children in Baghdad. 2025. URL: https://ideasbeyondborders.org/driving-back-thedogma-baghdads-mobile-library/ (accessed: 15.05.2025).

15. Kilgour F. G. The Evolution of the Book. Oxford : Oxford University Press, 1998.

16. Kitabi Platform. About Us: Empowering Iraqi Readers Through Digital Access. 2022. URL: https://www.kitabi.iq/about (accessed: 01.04.2025).

17. Kochtanek T. R., Matthews J. R. Library Information Systems: From Library Automation to Distributed Information Access Solutions. Westport, Conn. : Libraries Unlimited, 2002.

18. Mohammed Bin Rashid Library. Annual Impact Report 2023: Digital Services for Children. 2023. URL: https://www.mbrl.ae (accessed: 01.05.2025).

19. Save the Children. Syria Education Report 2017: Out of School Children Statistics. 2017. URL: https://www.savethechildren.org (accessed: 01.05.2025).

20. Suber P. Open Access. Cambridge, MA : MIT Press, 2012. DOI 10.7551/mitpress/9286.001.0001.

21. Syrian Future Movement. Digital Education is a Necessity and an Objective in Syria. 2024. URL: https://sfuturem.org/en/digital_education-2 (accessed: 01.05.2025).

22. UNESCO. Reviving Education in Nineveh: Digital Libraries Initiative. 2023. URL: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/reviving-education-nineveh-digital-libraries-initiative (accessed: 01.05.2025).

23. Wiegand W. A. Irrepressible Reformer: A Biography of Melvil Dewey. Chicago : American Library Association, 1996.

24. Golubeva N. L., Fediun E. G., Panchishko L. M. Formirovanie mul`timedii`noi` sredy` biblioteki, obsluzhivaiushchei` detei` i podrostkov: informatcionno-kommunikatcionny`i` podhod // Mir nauki, kul`tury`, obrazovaniia. 2021. № 3 (88). S. 170–172. URL: https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/formirovanie-multimediynoy-sredy-bibliotekiobsluzhivayuschey-detey-i-podrostkov-informatsionno-kommunikatsionnyy-podhod (data obrashcheniia: 04.05.2025).

25. Dratckaia M. E., Red`kina N. S. Vnedrenie innovatcii` v tekhnologicheskie protcessy` nauchnoi` biblioteki v usloviiakh razvivaiushchei`sia veb-sredy` // Bibliosfera. 2012. № 2. S. 33–42. URL: https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/vnedrenie-innovatsiy-v-tehnologicheskieprotsessy-nauchnoy-biblioteki-v-usloviyah-razvivayuscheysya-veb-sredy (data obrashcheniia: 04.05.2025).

26. Leevanskaia izdatel`skaia biblioteka. Godovoi` otchet o deiatel`nosti: Detskie tcifrovy`e izdaniia. 2023. URL: https://www.sayeghonline.com/ (data obrashcheniia: 15.05.2025).

27. Ministerstvo kul`tury` Iordanii. Godovoi` otchet o deiatel`nosti: tcifrovy`e programmy` dlia detei` v Natcional`noi` biblioteke Al`-Husei`na. 2023. URL: https://www.culture.gov.jo (data obrashcheniia: 15.05.2025).

28. Ministerstvo sviazi i informatcionny`kh tekhnologii` Egipta. Initciativa EgyptDigitalBuds: otchet o zapuske 2023/2024. 2023. URL: https://www.mcit.gov.eg (data obrashcheniia: 15.05.2025).

29. Ministerstvo sviazi i informatcionny`kh tekhnologii` Katara. Tcifrovaia povestka dnia 2030: dvizhenie k tcifrovoi` transformatcii. 2024. URL: https://www.mcit.gov.qa (data obrashcheniia: 01.05.2025).

30. Ministerstvo tcifrovoi` e`konomiki i predprinimatel`stva Iordanii. Tcifrovaia strategiia Iordanii 2025: progress i realizatciia. 2023. URL: https://www.modee.gov.jo (data obrashcheniia: 15.05.2025).

31. Natcional`naia biblioteka Katara. Godovoi` otchet 2023: Katarskaia tcifrovaia biblioteka i ee kul`turnoe vliianie. 2023. URL: https://www.qnl.qa (data obrashcheniia: 01.05.2025).

32. Timoshkina E. N. 6-ia Mezhregional`naia nauchno-prakticheskaia konferentciia «Informatcionno-mul`timedii`ny`e tekhnologii: vektor razvitiia». Obzor raboty` // Nauchny`e i tekhnicheskie biblioteki. 2017. № 5. S. 87–95. DOI 10.33186/1027-3689-2017-5-87-95.

33. Upravlenie kul`tury` i iskusstv Dubaia. Godovoi` otchet 2022: E`lektronnaia biblioteka i molodezhny`e programmy`. 2022. URL: https://www.dubaiculture.gov.ae (data obrashcheniia: 01.05.2025).

34. Fond global`ny`kh initciativ Mohammeda bin Rashida Al` Maktuma. Otchet o zapuske integrirovannoi` tcifrovoi` shkoly` v Iordanii v 2024 godu. 2024. URL: https://www.mbrfoundation.ae (data obrashcheniia: 15.05.2025).

35. Fond global`ny`kh initciativ Mohammeda bin Rashida Al` Maktuma. Proekt neprery`vnosti obrazovaniia v Leevane 2024–2025. 2024. URL: https://www.mbrfoundation.ae (data obrashcheniia: 01.05.2025).