Avid readers flock to ‘Used Books Festival’ in Sharjah

Jamil Khan, Senior Reporter

Hundreds of residents along with their families have been acquiring books from the 4-day ‘Used Books Fair’ being held at Al Nakheel Park on the shores of Khalid Lake in Sharjah as part of the activities marking Sharjah as World Book Capital.

The festival is part of activities being organised by the Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services (SCHS) under the theme ‘Get a book, Light a path’.

“The response from the residents from all over the UAE towards the used books fair is enormous as we are dealing with thousands of interested buyers of books daily.

“Through the last books fair, we raised around Dhs500,000 and we are expecting this year to double the amount with over one million books,” said Jihad Abdel Qader, the General Coordinator of the Festival while talking to Gulf Today.

Abdel Nasser Darwish, Head of Sorting, Classifying, Pricing and Displaying Books Committee, said that “on the first day we displayed 400,000 books while 600,000 books are still in boxes, because there was no room on the displaying tables for them.”

He assured that they will provide an opportunity for the people who previously visited the festival to buy more books that they did not find on their first visit. He reassured the people who have not yet visited the festival that more surprises and valuable books are waiting for them until the last minute. He asked them to come to the festival, even for several times because every time there are new books.

A visitor, who previously visited the festival, especially since there were some people who have been attending the festival since its beginning in April 2006, could notice the extent of the development and change that this festival reached year after year. Either in terms of the increasing number of books, which have reached one million this year, or in terms of the number of volunteers who are racing to serve the festival’s audience. Some of them have been working for months in sorting, pricing and classifying books, or in terms of presentation and classification that allows visitors to navigate between the festival’s sections easily and freely. 

The General Coordinator of the Festival directed his sincerest thanks to SCHS Partners Sharjah Municipality, Sharjah Police, Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority, and Fast Contracting who contributed to overcoming all difficulties and providing all the supplies and needs in establishing and making this festival successful. 

In addition, he thanked sponsors Tilal Properties, Dana Gas and Sisli International and Media Partners Sharjah Broadcasting Authority, Sharjah Government Media Bureau, Al Khaleej newspaper, Rimal International Advertising, and Site Global and special thanks for Sharjah Cooperative Society and Sharjah Old Cars Club.

The activities of the associated programme of the festival continued as visitors watched a group of artistic workshops and shows for the Indian community, which presented expressive acts with the utmost accuracy and beauty. There was singing and playing music on the oud by artist Ibrahim Al Hammadi. Sharjah Mime Band, which is an affiliate of Art for All Centre (Falaj), presented theatrical performances.

The programme included live singing shows for a group of girls from the Cultural Office of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs in Sharjah, shows for the storyteller theatre and other cinematic shows for children, competitions, sports and entertainment, including the Best Picture and the Best Comment competitions.

Art Center for All - Falaj and Al-Wafa School for Capacity Development - Ramla Branch, the Committee for Attracting Institutions and Communities participated in presenting the activities of the associated programme. Sharjah Children, Youngsters in Sharjah, the Cultural Office, and the Physical Education Team in the SCHS also participated. Sharjah Art Foundation, Sharjah Museums Department, and the Committee to Attract Institutions and Communities took part as well.