What happens when young readers are given the tools to become authors themselves? For 928 children and young people across Sharjah, the answer was a collection of original stories created from their own ideas.

Sharjah Public Libraries’ (SPL) four-day “Beyond the Book” Summer Camp, held from August 3 to 6, took participants through the complete storytelling process, from developing an initial idea and creating characters to building a plot, designing a cover and presenting the finished work to an audience.

The programme was held across six SPL branches in Sharjah, Al Dhaid, Kalba, Khorfakkan, Wadi Al Helo and Dibba Al Hisn, with activities tailored to different age groups.

Children aged 6 to 13 participated at the Sharjah, Kalba and Wadi Al Helo branches, while teenagers and young adults aged 14 to 18 attended programmes at Al Dhaid, Khorfakkan and Dibba Al Hisn.

Learning beyond reading

The camp was designed to move children beyond simply consuming stories and give them an opportunity to understand how stories are created.

Participants developed their own concepts, explored character development and plot construction, and combined writing with visual elements such as cover design. They also had the opportunity to present their work and collaborate with their peers.

Eman Bushlaibi, director of Sharjah Public Libraries, said the programme demonstrated the importance of understanding young people’s interests and giving them practical tools to express their ideas.

“The camp’s outcomes reflect our ability to identify the interests of children and youth and equip them with the tools to express themselves and turn their ideas into tangible work,” she said.

Bushlaibi added that programmes such as these also provide libraries with insights into how younger generations engage with knowledge, helping SPL shape future content, services and learning opportunities around their needs and long-term skills development.

Building confidence through creativity

The projects created during the camp also highlighted the role of creative activities in developing skills that extend beyond writing.

By creating and presenting their own stories, participants practised imagination, communication, collaboration and the ability to develop an idea from concept to completion.

“The projects presented by the children and youth show the value of investing in imagination, reading, and writing from an early age,” Bushlaibi said.

The programme also encouraged participants to see themselves as active contributors to the cultural experience, rather than simply audiences for it.

What comes next?

SPL plans to continue the “Beyond the Book” concept during its 2026 Winter Camp, scheduled for December 7 to 10.

The winter programme will take the idea further by exploring how written texts can be transformed into artistic, theatrical and visual productions, giving children and young people opportunities to develop new creative projects inspired by books.

The initiative reflects a broader shift in children’s library programming, where reading is increasingly being combined with creative production, collaboration and practical skills. For young participants, the result is an opportunity not only to read stories, but to understand how ideas become stories of their own.