HE Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development assured that the Ministry, by launching more than 150 different initiatives, aims to reach all segments of society during March (the month of reading). This comes as a practical application of the National Reading Plan adopted by the Council of Ministers to implement the directives of our wise leadership represented in His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, members of the Supreme Council, Rulers of the Emirates and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme commander of the armed forces. This came after His Excellency’s adoption of the plan of the Ministry of Culture during the Month of Reading. The plan focuses on delivering knowledge to all segments of society all over the UAE. His Excellency stressed that reading is the key to creating a promising Emirati generation including innovators, scientists and thinkers, a generation open to knowledge and enlightenment. From this perspective, the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development focused on delivering initiatives that confirms the position of reading and deepen its culture. The initiatives also focus on the activation of community cooperation making books available to everyone. His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak explained that the initiatives are innovative including “The Book Bank” initiative, which focuses on the establishment of channels for receiving different kinds of books (whether used or new) from community members, institutions and publishing houses. This provides an opportunity of books exchange between those interested in reading either by delivering them directly to the ministry or putting them in dedicated containers in malls. Books are then classified and displayed in exhibitions organized in Ministry’s centers across the UAE to be sold to the public at nominal prices as an encouragement to buy books and exchange knowledge. Another related initiative is the “Knowledge Scholarships”, which focuses on supporting refugee camps with books and knowledge as a supportive initiative of the United Arab Emirates to the distressed. Sheikh Nahyan added that the “Story Award” will be launched targeting Emirati and Arab short stories writers and creatives residing in the UAE. An addition to the award this year is the “Bed time stories” category for children up to 5 years. The Ministry will also launch the project “Preparing Young Authors” to support talented and creative Emirati authors, through the launch of a range of activities, events, competitions and awards supporting and creating the appropriate environment to enhance their abilities and develop their creative potential in the areas of literary writing and organizing specialized seminars and workshops. Speaking about the “Libraries Cafes”, Sheikh Nahyan added that the Ministry will be creating libraries in coffee shops at malls all over the UAE with more than 80 different titles through partnership with the private sector. This initiative aims to encourage members of the community to read in their free time. HE added that the ministry will organise a series of events and workshops to activate the role of councils in neighborhoods. Initiatives of the Year of Goodness will be linked to initiatives of the National Strategy of Reading through the promotion of the concept of cultural giving as a habit practiced by all segments of the society. Sheikh Nahyan explained that during the month of reading cultural centers of the Ministry will be transformed into real reading hubs with the initiative “UAE Reads”. A cognitive / cultural initiative aiming to provide a proper climate for the development of reading and cognitive capacities among members of the UAE society. This will be achieved through combining all library and cultural centers visitors and volunteers and delivering a number of various events and activities to promote and encourage the culture of reading and knowledge in the UAE society. His Excellency added that the Ministry of Culture did not forget about the younger generation interested in social media websites, as the Ministry launches the electronic campaign “We Read For You” through social media websites to encourage reading by suggesting a number of books worthy of reading. His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak stressed that the Ministry also prepared a special program for people with special needs such as the “Audio Book” and several activities to encourage workers to read. His Excellency called on all segments of the society to interact, make use and cooperate with these initiatives to ensure they achieve their desired goal of making the UAE society conscious, educated, and effective in the overall renaissance of the UAE.