The National Cultural Project for the Renewal of Our Relationship with the Book

The National Cultural Project for the Renewal of Our Relationship with the Book is one of the sustainable national cultural projects at the King Abdulaziz Public Library in Riyadh City. It aims to strengthen the bond between books and individuals in society by providing a conducive environment for reading activities and serving as an incubator for research, reading, and exploration initiatives.

The official approval for the creation of a national project focused on books was issued on April 27, 2003. The King Abdulaziz Public Library was designated as the headquarters for the project's General Secretariat.

The National Cultural Project for the Renewal of Our Relationship with the Book aims to promote positive attitudes and inclinations toward free reading among various segments of society. It seeks to raise awareness of the benefits and importance of reading on all levels, emphasize the value of acquiring knowledge as a fundamental building block for the future, and increase awareness of the book’s role as a vessel of knowledge in an age of technological advancement. The project also aims to provide appropriate books for different social groups in various libraries, activities, and public facilities (such as medical clinics, airports, sports clubs, etc.), conduct research to identify the reasons for society’s reluctance to read and propose solutions and develop individuals' preferred reading fields within the community.

The National Cultural Project for the Renewal of Our Relationship with the Book oversees a range of activities and sub-projects, including:

- A Recreational Reading Festival for Students of Public Education: This festival features activities related to reading and exploring stories, providing male and female students with opportunities to visit the library branches. Specialized reading teams also visit schools, and training courses are offered for male and female teachers in the general education system.

- The Mobile Library: This consists of two mobile buses, equipped with books and stories suitable for various segments of society. The buses are present at cultural events across different provinces of the Kingdom.

- Mobile Learning Resources: The King Abdulaziz Public Library has equipped two reading buses with learning resources suitable for all segments of society. These buses are stationed for five days in municipal squares across Riyadh City to encourage people to read and learn.

King Abdulaziz Public Library Airport Branch: The King Abdulaziz Public Library provides a collection of books suitable for all segments of society in the Kingdom's airports. These books are available twenty-four hours a day and are regularly updated. A large number of travelers, both adults and children, benefit from this program.

A Meeting Point for their Reading Experiences: The forum consists of a series of regular meetings where intellectuals and cultural figures share their reading experiences, serving as role models for others.

- Cultural Fora: These are various forums aimed at promoting reading.

In 2020, the National Cultural Project for the Renewal of Our Relationship with the Book conducted over one hundred visits to several public parks in Riyadh City. The initiative targeted all age groups to encourage reading, and it also held a reading course for the target age group of nine to fifteen years old to foster their ideas and increase their exposure to knowledge and cultures.