English abstract
The current study sought to investigate the role of academic libraries in nurturing the
purple economy culture in the Sultanate of Oman by investigating their practices and roles
in accomplishing the goals of the 2021-2040 Cultural Strategy. It also intended to identify
possible challenges and anticipate future roles that they would play in establishing the purple
economy culture. The study adopted a qualitative approach, with semi-structured interviews
serving as the primary research method. The study community consisted of all 11 academic
libraries affiliated with public and private universities in the Sultanate of Oman, with a total
of 32 academic libraries, twelve interviews have been conducted. Six government and private
universities in the Muscat Governorate were included in the study's sample: Sultan Qaboos
University, the German University of Technology, Arab Open University, Muscat University,
and the National University of Science and Technology (Engineering and Pharmacy
faculties).
Among the study's primary conclusions is that university libraries in Oman have
specific practices that can contribute to the promotion and dissemination of the purple
economy culture. Cultural promotion and awareness, cultural collaboration, cultural services,
and cultural heritage were the four key categories for these practices. The survey also showed
twelve major functions played by academic libraries in Oman in improving the purple
economy culture in accordance with the Cultural Strategy 2021-2040. These duties range
from developing talent in cultural domains to funding research and participating in
international collaboration to protect cultural assets.
The major barriers impeding the growth of the purple economy culture in academic
libraries were identified as human challenges, financial challenges, administrative
challenges, societal challenges, and infrastructure challenges. The study also suggested various prospective roles for academic libraries to play in supporting this new culture, such as the creation of paid events and services, the promotion of Omani identity and culture, the introduction of the purple economy culture, and the expansion of collaborative activities.
The study concluded with a set of suggestions, the most essential of which are:
libraries can help to cultural and economic development by directing them to build a cultural
tourism strategy that focuses on revitalizing and promoting cultural heritage, as well as
utilizing them for digital media. Furthermore, libraries must be included in feasibility studies
that extract economic indicators for projects and cultural industries in order to define
priorities, emphasizing the relevance of information and its application to support innovation
and the research of cultural-economic dynamics.
