King Fahd National Library's "Library Talk" initiative held a panel session yesterday titled "Culture and the Memory of Place: Stories and Intersections" at the Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Naeem Cultural Hall. The guest was Her Excellency Sheikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Sheikh Ebrahim bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Center for Culture and Research in Bahrain.

Sheikha Mai described how the house of Sheikh Ebrahim Al Khalifa was turned into a cultural center where cultural legacy meets Bahrain's long-standing architectural tradition.

Asked about the key lessons Arab cities can draw on to protect their heritage, she said those interested in and responsible for rehabilitating old cities should remain faithful to their core identity.

She praised Saudi Arabia's growing attention to architectural heritage and to preserving the identity of historic cities such as AlUla and Diriyah, noting that this has enabled the Kingdom to build a distinctive and attractive form of tourism.

The Library Talk initiative links intellectual figures with the wider community through a series of monthly sessions, with the aim of turning the library into an active hub for learning, innovation and knowledge.