Amman, September 2 – The 8th Library Seminar, organized by Abdul Hameed Shoman Library, was held today, Tuesday, in Amman under the title “The Library as a Catalyst for Change: Smart Libraries for a Changing Society,” with the participation of local and Arab specialists.
The seminar opened with a panel discussion titled “Deep Technology and Libraries: Transformation Opportunities, Challenges, and Adaptation Strategies,” moderated by the Foundation’s CEO Valentina Kassisieh. The panel featured Dr. Saleh bin Suleiman Al-Zuhaimi, Chairman of the Board of Abra Al-Khaleej for Information Technology; Dr. Michael Ferl, Librarian for Student Learning Support at Ohio University; Dr.
Moamen Al-Nasharti, Assistant Professor of Digital Humanities, Library and Information Science, Digital Archives, and Natural Language Processing at Cairo University; and Paul Bevel, Reference Services Librarian at the University of Calgary.
In her opening remarks, Kassisieh stated that since 2016, Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation—the cultural and social responsibility arm of Arab Bank—has organized this seminar annually as a platform to reflect on the future of libraries. She noted that each edition addresses a new issue reflecting contemporary challenges while opening new horizons for change.
She added: “In this eighth edition, we raise a fundamental question at the heart of the global conversation: how can deep technology, artificial intelligence, and robotics reshape the library—not merely as a repository of knowledge, but as a driver of change, creativity, and innovation in service of communities?”
Kassisieh emphasized the rapid pace of global transformation, noting that libraries in Asia, Europe, and the United States are already welcoming visitors with robots and using smart systems to personalize knowledge. In the Arab region, similar initiatives have begun to emerge—from Oman to the Mohammed bin Rashid Library in Dubai—demonstrating that transformation is possible and closer than anticipated. She stressed that “this is not a luxury, but a necessity,” as these technologies bring libraries closer to users, accelerate access to knowledge, and free staff to focus on their core roles of guiding minds and inspiring future generations.
The panel discussion addressed multiple themes, including opportunities, challenges, and adaptation strategies related to technology. Participants explored what “deep technology in libraries” truly means—whether it is merely a technical shift or a transformation in the philosophy and social mission of libraries. They also discussed how libraries can leverage deep technology through partnerships with universities and research centers, and how they can evolve into hubs for learning and technological development.
Key challenges were also examined, such as information reliability, AI hallucinations in reference services, the potential overreliance on algorithms and their impact on librarians’ roles, and how libraries with limited budgets can adopt deep technologies without incurring excessive costs. Participants emphasized that challenges can be transformed into opportunities when approached with a different mindset.
Under the theme of adaptation strategies, discussions focused on how deep technology can bring libraries closer to their communities and how these topics can be integrated into university programs in Library and Information Science to prepare future librarians. Looking ahead, participants explored how emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and augmented reality could reshape the user experience, as well as the future balance between human and automated roles in libraries.
The seminar program included specialized sessions and papers, such as “Deep Technology in the Service of Young and Adult Readers: The Experience of the Deposit Center for Culture and Innovation,” presented by Dr. Saleh Al-Zuhaimi; “Empowering Knowledge through Artificial Intelligence: American Libraries as Centers for Services, Learning, and Technological Development,” by Dr. Michael Ferl; “The Smart Library in the Age of Instant Knowledge: Strategies for Survival and Impact in a Changing Digital Environment,” by Dr. Moamen Al-Nasharti; “Minds That Generate—but Err: AI Literacy Frameworks and Strategies for Addressing Hallucinations and Bias,” by Paul Bevel; and a final paper titled “The Smart Library Starts Here: AI Tools to Improve Services and Expand Impact,” presented by Engineer Ahmed Islam.
The seminar reflects Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation’s commitment to keeping pace with developments that strengthen the role of libraries as catalysts for change within society. This year’s event also featured a technology exhibition displaying AI-powered devices used in libraries.
It is worth noting that since 2016, Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation has organized the Library Seminar annually under the theme “The Library as a Catalyst for Change.” The seminar targets professionals working in public libraries, children’s libraries, school libraries, and information services, and hosts international experts to share best practices and successful global models of modern libraries. Through these discussions, the seminar seeks to redefine the role of libraries in the 21st century, addressing topics such as digital transformation, future libraries, community impact, the mission of librarians, reading promotion, sustainable user experience, and the role of exhibitions and events in fostering reading and information literacy in academic and public libraries.