On Tuesday morning, October 13, 2026, our university hosted the proceedings of the 3rd International Specialized Conference on Information and Libraries. The conference was organized by the Indexing and Information Systems Center of the Library and House of Manuscripts at the Holy Al-Abbas Shrine, under the theme "Increasing Knowledge - Leading the Future," with the participation of a distinguished group of academics, researchers, officials from the Holy Shrine, and specialists in the fields of information and libraries.
The conference was held in cooperation with our university and with the scientific participation of the College of Artificial Intelligence at the University of Baghdad, as well as the departments of information and knowledge technologies at Mustansiriyah University, University of Basrah, and University of Mosul, alongside several academic and intellectual institutions. It aimed to foster scientific communication, exchange expertise, discuss the latest developments in information and library sciences, and explore the horizons of digital transformation while leveraging modern technologies in knowledge management, heritage preservation, and making it accessible to future generations.
The conference activities began with the Al-Ameed Book Fair, held in the courtyard of the university center and organized by our university's Central Library. Following this, attendees moved to the Imam Al-Mujtaba (peace be upon him) Hall for the official commencement of the conference proceedings.
The events commenced with a recitation of verses from the Holy Quran by the reciter Ali Al-Saadi, followed by reciting Surah Al-Fatiha in honor of the nation's martyrs, and the playing of both the national anthem and the "Lahn Al-Ibaa" anthem of the Holy Al-Abbas Shrine. Subsequently, the address of the General Secretariat of the Holy Al-Abbas Shrine was delivered by its representative, Dr. Afdal Al-Shami. In his speech, he highlighted the importance of libraries as active centers for preserving human heritage, disseminating knowledge, and supporting scientific research. He also pointed out the necessity of keeping pace with technological advances and digital transformation to develop library services, cataloging systems, and information networks, while enhancing the skills of staff through professional development and training, and emphasizing the importance of protecting and preserving manuscripts and documents within legal frameworks to safeguard civilizational legacy and transmit it to future generations.
The address of our university presidency was delivered by the Vice President for Administrative and Legal Affairs, Professor Dr. Mushtaq Karim Abdul-Rahim. He emphasized the importance of integration between academic and cultural institutions in supporting scientific research, exchanging expertise, and advancing library and information systems. He also stressed the necessity of keeping pace with digital transformations and employing artificial intelligence and big data technologies to enhance knowledge services, while commending the role of the Indexing and Information Systems Center in strengthening library work and modernizing its practices. He noted that the conference represents an opportunity to share visions and expertise, and to forge sustainable scientific partnerships that contribute to the development of knowledge institutions and community service.
This was followed by the conference keynote address delivered by the Dean of the College of Artificial Intelligence at the University of Baghdad, Professor Dr. Dhiyaa Jassim Kadhim. He pointed out the need to leverage modern technologies, especially artificial intelligence and big data, to advance library and information systems and enhance their efficiency, thereby contributing to knowledge organization and accessibility, as well as supporting scientific research and decision-making. He also highlighted the pioneering role of the Indexing and Information Systems Center at the Holy Al-Abbas Shrine in preserving manuscript heritage and national memory.
A video presentation illustrating the work of the Indexing and Information Systems Center at the Holy Shrine was also screened. The opening events concluded with a practical workshop presented by Professor Dr. Naeema Hassan Jabr, titled "Overproduction of Knowledge Content and Professional Management - Challenges and Practices in an Artificial Intelligence Environment." In the workshop, she provided detailed explanations of artificial intelligence applications, their characteristics, and working mechanisms, presenting practical models alongside the potential threats they pose to user privacy and information security.
Our university's hosting of this conference comes as part of its support for scientific and intellectual momentum, and its dedication to providing an academic environment that embraces specialized conferences, contributing to the development of scientific research and strengthening partnerships among scientific and cultural institutions.
