The Role of Misr Public Library System in Developing Learning Skills in Light of the "I Am a Lifelong Learner" InitiativeThe Role of Misr Public Library System in Developing Learning Skills in Light of the "I Am a Lifelong Learner" Initiative

Abstract

Lifelong learning is regarded as one of the fundamental pillars for achieving sustainable development and an urgent necessity imposed by the rapid transformations occurring in the fields of knowledge, technology, and the labor market. The educational process has come to extend beyond the boundaries of traditional institutions to become a shared responsibility among all institutions of society, spanning all stages of an individual's life for the purpose of personal and professional development.
This study derives its significance from its alignment with current national trends and efforts, specifically within the framework of the "I Am a Lifelong Learner" initiative launched by the Ministry of Local Development and Environment in cooperation with UNESCO in January 2026, with the aim of instilling a culture of lifelong learning within society. This places cultural institutions and public libraries in general, and the Misr Public Libraries System in particular, at the forefront of the institutions called upon to embrace these objectives and translate them into tangible reality.
The study primarily aimed to monitor and evaluate the role of the Misr Public Libraries System in developing lifelong learning skills, and to assess the extent to which its services contribute to achieving the goals of relevant national and international initiatives. To achieve the study's objectives, the descriptive-analytical approach was adopted, applied to thirteen (13) main libraries within the Misr Public Libraries System, employing questionnaires administered to library directors, as well as content analysis of the study sample libraries' pages on the most popular social media platform (Facebook) to monitor and analyze the nature of the activities and services supporting lifelong learning.
The study found that library directors' familiarity with the "I Am a Lifelong Learner" initiative and its objectives reached 61.5%. Digital and technological learning activities, alongside reading and general culture activities, ranked highest among learning activities across all libraries, reflecting full consensus on prioritizing these two pillars as a first step toward sustainable development. The study recommended incorporating the initiative into the libraries' strategic plan, along with the need to adopt innovative institutional and promotional mechanisms to activate the (National Policies) and (Global Belonging) pillars, moving beyond reliance on traditional field-based activities — while ensuring a balance across age groups and target segments in the design and delivery of activities.