Riyadh, 7 October 2025 (15 Rabi’ al-Thani 1447H) – King Abdulaziz Public Library on Tuesday evening launched Maknoon, the new mascot for its children’s libraries, in a ceremony attended by Faisal bin Abdulrahman bin Muammar, Supervisor General of the library. The launch came as part of the library’s participation in the Riyadh International Book Fair 2025, held at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University under the slogan "Riyadh Reads."

Maknoon is the first fictional character created specifically for the library’s children’s libraries. Described as "a wise and adventurous creature" born from the pages of books and raised among worlds of imagination and creativity, the character is designed to serve as "the guardian of stories and inventor of imagination," guiding children on their journey toward knowledge in a space where words meet images and science meets wonder.

The character’s design draws on Saudi Arabia’s rich heritage, incorporating aesthetic elements from Al-Qatt Al-Asiri art, Al-Sadu weaving, Al-Rawshan latticework and traditional Najdi doors — a blend that embodies Saudi national identity with a contemporary spirit combining authenticity and creativity, positioning Maknoon as an ambassador for local culture at national and international events.

The library’s pavilion at the fair has drawn strong visitor interest, showcasing a wide range of literary, scientific and cultural publications under its scientific publishing program, alongside children’s stories in Arabic and in translation into world languages. The pavilion is also hosting several notable cultural initiatives, chief among them the Saudi-Chinese Cultural Year 2025 initiative, which includes a display of works translated between Arabic and Chinese and an introduction to the library’s branch at Peking University.

Among the titles on display at the library’s pavilion are:

  • On the Footsteps of Al-Mutanabbi by Dr. Abdulaziz bin Nasser Al-Mane’
  • Saudi Arabian Business Law by Frank Vogel
  • more than 17 children’s titles translated between Chinese and Arabic, including The New China in the New Century, translated by Dr. Faiza Kaab

The pavilion also features a historic visual display of rare photographs documenting Saudi handicrafts, part of the library’s activities marking the "Year of Handicrafts 2025," launched by the Ministry of Culture to highlight the Kingdom’s heritage and artistic diversity across its regions and to showcase the aesthetic and cultural values that shape national identity.

Visitors can also enjoy an interactive digital experience via smart screens introducing the library’s projects, e-services and branches inside and outside the Kingdom. The pavilion welcomes visitors daily from 11:00 am until midnight.

The library is also presenting a distinguished collection of translated cultural and scientific books, including:

  • Coffee Culture: Local Experiences and Global Connections by Catherine Tucker
  • Human Happiness with Horses by Elmar Schenzer
  • Truffles in History, Medicine and Literature
  • The Fall of the Wild by Ben A. Minteer
  • The Hemlock Cup by Bettany Hughes
  • North Najd: Diary of an Exploratory Journey on Camelback, translated by Atiyah Al-Dhafiri
  • Folk Tales in Saudi Arabia (Arabic-English), translated by Dr. Hind bint Turki Al-Sudairi

Since its founding more than four decades ago, King Abdulaziz Public Library has continued its efforts to spread knowledge and promote reading through a wide range of cultural projects and participation in local and international exhibitions, in addition to translating books and holding seminars and intellectual dialogues — reinforcing its role as a leading cultural institution that strengthens civilizational and knowledge exchange between the Kingdom and the world.