by Vanessa Middleton
The UAE has designated 2015 as the Year of Innovation. Since libraries play a critical role in the development of knowledge innovation, more and more of these libraries are integrating MakerSpace platforms within the new service delivery models. The MakerSpace trend in libraries has demonstrated practical applications of cultivating creativity and innovation. It is described by Intel as, “the recent way of tech-inspired, do-it-yourself (DIY) innovation, whereby the participant uses tools, knowledge and other resources to create new products.” The Library is becoming the innovation space that facilitates users’ ability to bring together knowledge, tools and resources to produce innovative solutions and products. Most libraries have increasingly invested in more information technology solutions, tools, learning spaces and much more to help stimulate creativity and knowledge production. As books and other research resources become increasingly available in digital formats – IT solutions are required to access the vast amounts of data which were once housed on a shelf – but are now available online, and are accessible anywhere, anytime. Dr. Easa Mohammed Bastaki, former CEO of Internet Fund and President of University of Dubai, recently outlined the roadmap to a culture of innovation during his keynote address at the 21st Annual Conference & Exhibition of Special Libraries Association Arabian Gulf Chapter; he noted that education and libraries are critical to the success of developing an innovative society within UAE.
Patents are the outcomes of innovative and creative thinking to solve practical challenges. Without extensive patent and scholarly research about the previous or related scientific work already done in the field, the researcher is at a loss to determine whether his/her idea is a new solution or idea. Abu Dhabi Technology Development Committee (TDC) has partnered with librarians in the past to deliver workshops to enlighten the scholarly community about details on intellectual property and the vital technical assistance provided by their office. Recently, a UAEU faculty member, Professor Ahmed Hussein, and his team discovered how date pits could be used to cure microbial bacteria in the gut of poultry and livestock. Another faculty member from Petroleum Institute, Dr. Saeed Alhassan Alkhazraji discovered a device to collect water from atmospheric moisture. I am sure their discoveries would not be possible unless they reviewed and consulted vast amounts of scholarly publications and patents related to their discoveries. So innovation is happening in UAE underpinned by research support and resources provided by librarians, knowledge workers within libraries and information centers. Overall libraries will continue to drive innovation and contribute to the development of the economy, improve social and cultural aspects of the community as well.
Get creative, be inspired, visit your library today and innovate!
Learn more MakerSpace here: http://www.makerspace.com/
