The library of the Arabian Gulf University (AGU) welcomed a delegation from the Ministry of Education of the Kingdom of Bahrain, represented by the Knowledge Resources and Development Centre, as part of efforts to enhance academic collaboration and support scientific research. The delegation was briefed on the advanced technologies employed in the university’s library and the digital transformation programmes that contribute to improving the academic research experience and facilitating precise access to information. Additionally, discussions were held regarding the digital repository as a future project aimed at promoting the dissemination and exchange of academic knowledge in the Kingdom.

Ms. Athra Al Alawi, Director of the AGU Library, emphasised the significance of digital transformation in developing academic library services. She highlighted that the library relies on the latest technologies, such as Library Management Systems (LMS) and electronic indexing, which facilitate access to both digital and traditional academic resources.

Ms. Al Alawi noted that digital transformation is a crucial step towards enhancing efficiency and meeting the needs of the academic community in the digital age. The university library offers an electronic library containing a wide range of books and scientific journals available online, alongside technologies that support distance learning and facilitate access to educational materials. This ultimately enhances the research and learning experience for students and researchers.

Moreover, she discussed the digital repository with the visiting delegation as a forthcoming project in the university library, aimed at collecting and preserving theses and dissertations (Master's and PhD) in a digital database. This project will enable researchers to easily share research findings and scientific articles, promoting broader access to knowledge, thereby enhancing local and international academic collaboration. This initiative aligns with the implementation of Article 3 of Law Decree No. 20 of 1975 concerning the legal deposit of theses at the state’s Knowledge Resources Centre, contributing to enhancing open access to information and achieving sustainable development goals.

At the conclusion of the visit, avenues for cooperation between the university library and knowledge resources centres in Bahrain were discussed, with a proposal to organise training courses and workshops aimed at training students and specialists in the use of modern technologies in libraries and how to leverage digital systems to improve academic research processes. The importance of enhancing knowledge exchange between academic institutions in Bahrain and expanding the availability of scientific resources using modern technologies was also stressed.

In closing, the delegation toured various sections of the library, observing how modern technologies are applied to serve researchers and students, including the electronic search system, the electronic library, and the digital repository, which represent significant steps towards promoting scientific research in the Kingdom.