Dubai’s Stunning Mohammed Bin Rashid’s Library Powered by Robots
Inside The Fascinating World Of Mohammed Bin Rashid Library That’s Home To 1 Million Book Titles
The establishment of the Mohammed bin Rashid Library is to foster the nation’s spirit of learning and curiosity. The preservation of Arabic culture and legacy is one of several objectives for building this library. Let’s find out more about the fascinating Mohammed bin Rashid Library in Dubai.
The library has a total area of 54,000 square meters and can accommodate 1,000 people at once. The library is clearly distinguished by 7 floors worth of knowledge to fascinate. The library is not limited to hard copies and has audiobooks and other sources to learn from.
Retrieving a title from a collection of over 1 million books takes just minutes at the newly opened Mohammed Bin Rashid Library (MBRL). The library is powered by impressive technology such as artificial intelligence, robotics and virtual reality.
Retrieving a title from a collection of over 1 million books takes just minutes at the newly opened Mohammed Bin Rashid Library (MBRL). The library is powered by impressive technology such as artificial intelligence, robotics and virtual reality.
So, how do you retrieve one title from 1.1 million books stacked at the library? Head to the Information Centre, request for the book and settle down in one of the cosy chairs there.
There is a wonderland of technology at work in the Auto Book Storage area in the basement of MBRL. Once a title has been asked for, the library staff puts in a request at the control centre.
A robotic vehicle locates the book among thousands of shelves. The shelf is retrieved and brought to the control centre. A light at the top of the counter will shine on the requested book. A library staff then takes the book and places it in the robotic vehicle— which runs on what looks like a monorail — which then delivers the book to the information centre.
As amazing as it is to watch the technology at work, this area remains out of bounds to the general public.
The robot-powered book retrieval system is among the several innovative gadgets inside the library.
Digitising rare manuscripts
Another significant work that MBRL is doing is digitizing old and hard-to-find manuscripts. Using the latest technology, library staff are able to digitize huge books within a matter of minutes.
“This work is very significant in preserving our knowledge,” said Jamal Al Shehhi, board member of MBRL. “Not just books, but we also scan and preserve atlases, maps and other works of significance.”
MBRL currently has over 6 million digitized dissertations in addition to 1.1 million printed and digital books.
Books come alive here
A specialized interactive reading kiosk in white and orange is installed next to the reception. Visitors can pull out a drawer in which 9 rectangular keys, each in Arabic and English, are stored. Upon picking out one key and inserting it into the machine, the reader can view that particular book in an interactive manner.
Complete with a background score, animations and the pages of the books, this will give a truly interactive reading experience to viewer.
Robot librarians
Once inside the library, a visitor might chance upon smart robots. Responding to queries and directing visitors to where they want to go, these robots can be accessed with a “Hey Google” command.
Self-checkout stations are installed throughout MBRL - across its seven floors and nine libraries. The media section also has a scanning area which allows students to scan parts of the reference books they need.
First announced in 2016, the library is built in the shape of a "rehl”, a traditional wooden book rest, mostly used to hold the Holy Quran.
Completed at a cost of Dh1 billion, MBRL will open its doors to public on Thursday, June 16. Those wishing to visit must first register on the website https://mbrl.ae/ or on the MBRL app. Entry is free for everyone.
Fast facts
• June 13, 2022 – His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, inaugurated Mohammed Bin Rashid Library
• June 16, 2022 – official opening of the library to the public
• Dh 1 billion – is the library’s total cost
• Rehal – the library is built in the shape of an Arabic lectern that is mostly used to hold the Holy Quran.
• 581,903 sqft. (over 54,000 sqm.) – Library’s total built area
• Mohammed Bin Rashid Library is launched as part of the Spreading Education & Knowledge section within Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives.
• 1,000 – the number of visitors the library can accommodate simultaneously.
• Over 1.1 million printed and digital books in Arabic and foreign languages.
• More than 6 million dissertations.
• About 73,000 musical scores.
• 75,000 videos.
• About 13,000 articles.
• Around 500 rare acquisitions.
• Over 5,000 printed and digital historical periodicals, archiving 325 years of history.
• About 35,000 printed and digital journals from all over the world.
