Cultural understanding can be enhanced through dialogue and exchange of knowledge. Meaningful and enduring dialogue requires a common language; it also presupposes that individuals engaging in the dialogue possess a certain level of openness, and more importantly, the willingness to accept the other.
 
New technology and the internet with its dynamic applications, allow youth globally to constantly explore all the knowledge that information technology, or the internet has to offer.  The internet, however, does not make it easy for two cultures speaking and publishing in different languages to communicate very effectively. And, the vast majority of published content online is in English. 
 
Thus, the primary obstacle in the dialogue which would lead to increased cultural misunderstanding is linguistic. Yet, language is only a cultural indicator; it is not the sole ingredient for cultural understanding. Knowledge of language is not always sufficient to understand culture.  The key component to understanding another culture is having exposure to it directly, regularly and through discussions and relationships with members of that culture.
 
The internet is a common virtual ground for dialogue among youth from different countries. Therefore, the natural response is that as American literature is available in abundance via the internet, so too can Arabic/Islamic literature can be made available to American youth in English. And, through the use of the internet and video conferencing, youth can be connected visually so as to talk about subjects which are of interest to them. 
 
The above mentioned objectives can be achieved through the following activities and methods:
 
1)     Making Arabic and Islamic literature more available to American youth in English through cooperations with the US Department of Education (Reading is Fundamental programme) and with national, as well as regional, teachers/educators trade associations like the National Middle School Association;
 
2)     Collaboration with Microsoft’s digital book project; and connecting with Google Foundation to initiate a similar project for youth. It is also suggested to connect with Amazon.com to arrange for greater volumes of Arabic-authored literature to be available via Amazon.com and on digital readers like the Kindle (in the US, UK and Germany);
 
3)     Organizing a series of Arabic and Islamic book readings live via video conference, whereby youth around the world could be connected to listen to a variety of authors read aloud from their books and have a discussion on the works.
 
4)    Establishment of Arab-American Youth book club (for short, the Y.A.L.L.A. [1] Book Club), whereby youth take turns selecting an Arab/Muslim-authored work to read and discuss via video conference, followed by an American authored work. The Library’s video conferencing facility could be used to link multiple cities, and the club can be promoted through pre-existing relationships with other libraries and schools.
 
5)    Linking with University based book clubs and blogs like www.Muslimvoices.org
 
6)    Coordination with American and non-American associations to host book fairs in the United States, particularly in Detroit and Indiana as well as other cities where there are large populations of Arab-Americans and non-Americans residing.
 
7)    Engaging with popular booksellers like Barnes & Noble to promote the marketing of Arab authored books through live book readings throughout the US as well as to engage them in similar discussions with US public libraries in major cities.
 
8)    Asking Arab Islamic States’ embassies in major US cities to host a travelling kiosk with books authored by Arab/Muslim authors.
 
9)     The YA.L.L.A. Prize for literature will be established. There will be two prizes awarded annually: the first will be awarded by a panel of Arab American youth who will vote on the best book annually which fosters Arab-American cultural understanding. The author can be any age, and any nationality. The prize will be admission to the Y.A.L.L.A. Hall of Fame for authors, and promotion of the book in the BA bookstore
 
The second award will be for the best youth author (age 15 – 30) who can submit an original literary work to the Y.A.L.L.A. panel of judges (a joint American/Arab/Muslim panel of judges who can be drawn from the past Y.A.L.L.A. Hall of Fame members, and those Arab/Muslim/American authors who also agree to participate in the live book readings in item no. 3 above.
 
The winner of the Y.A.L.L.A. prize for best youth author will be:
 
a) Published by the Library of Alexandria & copies of his/her book will be sold in the Library’s bookstore; and
 
b) He or she will be awarded a contract for the publication of a second book with a $1000.