FAQ

If you still have questions after checking the answers below, please contact the American Library Association at [email protected].

  Who can Participate in the Sharjah International Library Conference?

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE:
Librarians affiliated with a School, Public, University, Corporate, Medical or Government libraries may register to participate in the Sharjah International Library Conference. (SILC)

WHO CANNOT PARTICIPATE:
Private companies, publishers, government agencies and those who have private or personal libraries cannot register to participate in any programs or events unless they are officially registered with the SILC. SILC management has the right to refuse any registration that does not fit the criteria specified. For questions on eligibility, please contact ALA at [email protected].

  Who can Sponsors and Exhibitors register for participation?

  • Registering and paying the registration fees for Librarians to attend the programs and other official events. Librarians from school, public, academic, medical, and corporate libraries are eligible to attend.
  • Only full time employees of the exhibiting companies or sponsors of the Sharjah International Library Conference can be registered at no charge.
Companies and/or Individuals who partner with officially paid companies or sponsors of the Sharjah international Library Conference are not permitted to attend any of the programs or enter the Library Lounge or Exhibit area.

  Do you need a visa to enter UAE?

Visas

If you are planning to visit Sharjah, you can apply for a visa to enter the UAE:

Visit Visa

Allow the holder to stay in the country for 30 or 90 days from the date of entry, and are valid for 60 days from the date of issue.
Citizens of the following countries can obtain a Visit Visa on arrival in the UAE:
France, Iceland, Italy, Norway, Holland, Germany, Sweden, Austria, Finland, Liechtenstein, Belgium, Greece, Luxembourg, Poland,
Switzerland, Estonia, Portugal, Malta, Spain, Cyprus, Denmark, Croatia, Slovenia, Romania, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary,
Lithuania, Latvia, Andorra, China, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, Hong Kong, Monaco, South Korea, Brunei, Ireland, New Zealand, The
Vatican, Canada, Japan, San Marino, United States, United Kingdom, Russia.
Citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are not required a visa to enter the UAE.
GCC residents are granted a 30-day visa on arrival.

Tourist Visa

Visitors who do not get a visa on arrival can obtain one through a tour agency or hotel, and may be granted a 30-day or 90-day Tourist Visa in the UAE.

Multiple-Entry Visa

Multiple-entry visas are available for visitors who have links with local businesses that require them to visit regularly.
remember that visa laws can change frequently, and therefore it is always advisable that you check with the UAE Embassy in your home country before you travel.

  Are you an ALA member?

You will need your ALA member information for the ALA member discount to be applied. Please have that information ready before you start the registration process.

To join ALA:
If you would like to join ALA to receive the discounted member rate for this event, please contact [email protected] before starting to register.

Group or multiple registrations:
Please contact [email protected] if you wish to register and pay for multiple attendees or a group from a single library or institution. Group registrations are not possible online.

  What do I get for my two-day conference registration fee?

Invitation letter after you register
Access to all conference programs and other sessions in English and Arabic (simultaneous translation)
Access to poster sessions
Access to Librarian’s Lounge and library exhibits
Access to Sharjah International Book Fair
2 lunches and coffee/tea breaks
Access to all session recordings after the conference
Conference bag and program book
Certificate of participation after in-person attendance
Up to three nights’ hotel reimbursed if you spend more than $10,000 USD on materials for your library at the Book Fair

  What do I get for my conference registration fee?

If you register online before the published deadline, you can pay by credit card or by wire transfer. Please contact [email protected] if you wish to pay by wire transfer, and please note that a bank processing fee will be added.

Onsite payments: We accept credit cards and UAE Dirhams onsite in Sharjah. We do not accept debit cards. Please note that if you pay onsite, the rates are higher than when you pay in advance online.

  How do I get my certificate of participation?

An official Certificate of Participation will be issued by the American Library Association ONLY after a Librarian badge is printed onsite for in-person attendance. Separate certificates will be presented at the end of the day to librarians who attend the full Preconference or Two-Day Conference sessions.

Registration and your presence in the sessions are required to obtain the official ALA Certificate.

  How do I get 3 free nights of hotel?

If you check the box on the registration form that says you expect to purchase $10,000 or more of materials onsite at the Sharjah International Book Fair, we will contact you to let you know how to get reimbursed for up to 3 nights of hotel. One additional staff member is eligible for the same reimbursement for each additional $10,000 you spend. Receipts of purchases will be required.

  What if I cancel after registration?

To cancel a confirmed registration, please send a written cancellation notice to [email protected] at least 30 days before the event. You will receive a refund minus a cancellation fee of $40 USD. Any refunds will be processed after the conference ends. Any cancellations made within 30 days of the start of the library conference will not be eligible for refunds. This includes cancellations related to not obtaining a necessary visa.