Riyadh, April 28, 2025 (30 Shawwal 1446H):

The King Abdulaziz Public Library in Riyadh marked World Book and Copyright Day by holding a distinguished cultural symposium titled "Author and Reader Between the Pages of Books," at its services branch and reading halls on Khurais Road, with a gathering of writers and intellectuals in attendance.

Speakers included writer Hisham bin Saad Al-Obeili, researcher Hatim bin Ali Al-Shahri, and writer Ahmed bin Abdullah Al-Aseelan, with the session moderated by short-story writer Bidour Al-Malki.

Intellectual themes and cultural discussions

The symposium addressed several important themes in the world of reading and writing, including reading habits and their role in shaping cultural identity, the relationship between author and reader and how a reader is drawn from a book's opening to its final chapter, the transition from reader to writer and the path of literary development, the challenges of publishing and reading in the digital age, and the role of cultural libraries in keeping pace with the Kingdom's knowledge transformation.

Speakers focused on the gap between society's growing interest in healthy and sporting habits versus the decline in reading habits amid contemporary digital challenges, affirming that reading remains the key to awareness and culture despite technological competition.

Concurrent cultural events

As part of its World Book Day celebrations, the King Abdulaziz Public Library also organized a staging of the play "Shaghaf" at the Riyadh Municipality theatre, and a "Book Day" event at Riyadh's Al-Waha Park under the "Mobile Learning Resources" program, aimed at spreading a culture of reading and raising awareness of the importance of books.

A renewed cultural message

These activities reflect the King Abdulaziz Public Library's commitment to supporting cultural activity and instilling a reading habit in society, in line with Saudi Vision 2030's goals of building an informed, knowledge-based society.