iRead Marathon

The largest annual reading marathon in the Arab World will be held over four days from January 15 – 18, 2025 at the Ithra Library and a selection of Arabic libraries. For the first time, registration will be open for other libraries wishing to participate. The marathon, iRead, seeks to inspire the society to read in public libraries, believing in the library’s role in enriching the scientific and cultural life. Ithra, in cooperation with the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development & Combating Desertification (NCVC), is committed to planting a tree for every 100 pages read, with the ambitious goal of reaching 1,000,000 pages read this year and contribute to planting 10,000 trees.

Participant’s Journey at the iRead Marathon:

• Anyone wishing to participate should go to the registration office at the Ithra Library or the participating libraries on any day of the event.
• The organizers at each library will register the participant's information (name, email, mobile number) in the marathon system, and deliver the participant's bag containing: participation badge, marathon booklet, a bookmark and the participant’s phone number.

Note: The library can share the registration link with visitors by displaying the barcode so that visitors can register their info themselves, but, upon registering, visitors must go to the registration office on any day of the event so that the organizers can activate their participation and hand them their participation bag before they begin reading.

• The participants are to read at the library and record the number of pages read and the book titles in the marathon booklet.
• At the end of each day, participants should go to the registration office to provide the organizers with their number and the number of pages read so that the organizers can register them in the marathon system and update the total number of pages read. The participant can continue reading in the library and return to the registration office again to update the number of pages read.
• After completing their participation, participants should go to the registration office to update the number of pages read, and inform the organizers of the completion of their participation. The participants will then receive an appreciation medal according to the number of pages read (100 pages, 200 pages, 500 pages, 1000 pages).
• Participation is not required on all days of the marathon; visitors can participate on any day of the event.

The iRead Marathon is not an individual or group competition, but rather a community initiative to achieve a common goal of reaching one million pages read to contribute to planting 10,000 trees.

What will the Ithra Library provide to participating libraries?

• Joint Marketing: Participating libraries will be included in the printed and digital materials and promotional campaigns for the marathon.
• Page Recording System: Each library will be granted the authority to use the joint system to record the number of pages read, and the Ithra Library will provide technical support throughout the marathon period, in addition to training the staff of participating libraries on how to use the system.
• Participation Tote Bag: The Ithra Library will provide the participants’ bag, which includes the participation badge, marathon booklet and bookmarks, and will ship them to all participating libraries according to the expected number of participants for each library.
• Medals: The Ithra Library will provide four categories of appreciation medals (100 pages, 200 pages, 500 pages, 1000 pages), and will ship them to all participating libraries according to the expected number of participants for each library.
• Designs: Ithra Library will provide the visual identity and all digital materials.
• Marathon Page: The Ithra Library will provide an automatically updated page to display the marathon numbers, which will include the total number of pages read and the total number of trees that the marathon will contribute to planting. The page will be displayed on the screens of the Ithra Library and the screen of participating libraries.
• Tree Planting: The Ithra Library, in cooperation with the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development & Combating Desertification, will plant the trees that the marathon contributes in coordination with the relevant authorities in each country.

Criteria for accepting participating libraries:

• Each participating library shall agree to adhere to the marathon schedule from January 15 – 18, 2025, or three days during this date, and coordinate with the Ithra Library team.
• Each participating library shall provide the appropriate infrastructure to hold the marathon, such as reading spaces and internet connection.
• Each library shall organize the event within the library.
• Each participating library shall provide a screen to display the marathon page provided by the Ithra Library which will be automatically updated to display the marathon numbers that will include the total number of pages read and the total number of trees that the marathon will contribute to planting.
• Each participating library shall inform Ithra of the library space and number of visitors.
• The library must have the necessary permits to hold the event.
• Each participating library shall provide a plan to market the event, cover it and share it with Ithra’s media team.