Al-Abbas Holy Shrine Opens Third International Conference on Information and Libraries
Al-Abbas Holy Shrine Opens Third International Conference on Information and Libraries
—————————————–
The Al-Abbas Holy Shrine launched its Third Specialized International Conference on Information and Libraries on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, bringing together researchers, academics and specialists to advance digital transformation, knowledge management and the preservation of scientific and cultural heritage.
Held under the theme “Knowledge Leadership: Shaping the Future,” the conference runs until October 15 and is organized by the shrine’s Department of Intellectual and Cultural Affairs through its cataloguing and information systems centers, alongside the Al-Fadl Center for the Maintenance and Preservation of Manuscripts and Documentary Archives. The event is organized in cooperation with Al-Ameed University, with academic partnerships involving the College of Artificial Intelligence at the University of Baghdad and information and knowledge technology departments at Mustansiriyah, Basra and Mosul universities.
The opening activities included an electronic exhibition on libraries and information services, featuring centers affiliated with the Department of Intellectual and Cultural Affairs, Al-Ameed University’s Central Library, the Umm al-Banin Women’s Library affiliated with the Al-Abbas Holy Shrine, and several publishing and distribution houses.
Dr. Afzal Al-Shami, a member of the shrine’s board of directors, said libraries have evolved beyond repositories for books and manuscripts into essential institutions for preserving human heritage, disseminating knowledge and supporting scientific research. He emphasized the importance of professional cataloguing and adopting integrated digital systems to help researchers, students and intellectuals access books, manuscripts, documents and academic references more efficiently.
The first day’s program includes a research session titled “Information Governance, Open Access and Cataloguing,” featuring 15 academic papers, as well as a workshop examining the challenges of managing the growing volume of knowledge content in the age of artificial intelligence.
The conference forms part of the Al-Abbas Holy Shrine’s efforts to strengthen scientific research, modernize knowledge institutions and apply emerging technologies and artificial intelligence to information management and the preservation of manuscripts and documentary archives, while expanding cooperation with academic institutions.
