The Sharjah Public Library (SPL) was established as a private library in 1925 by Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr Al Qasimi, under the name "Al Qasimiyah Library." In May 2011, His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, inaugurated the new building of the library at the Cultural Palace Square, with the name Sharjah Public Library.
A treasure trove of arts, literature and sciences, and an array of contemporary resources including a digital library containing numerous digital and audiobooks, the 5 branches of the Library, located across the emirate's major cities of Dhaid, Dibba Al Hosn, Kalba, Khorfakkan and Wadi Al Helo, have been supporting a diverse range of learners.
SPL is connected to 38,000 libraries and schools worldwide through the "Digital Library Collection," launched in cooperation with OverDrive. SPL also hosts the Sharjah Literature Award in collaboration with SBA, an annual award with a prize money of AED 15,000 (about $4,080) for original research.