New edition of used book fair announced

sharjah — Sheikha Jamila bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, director-general of Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services, has announced the setting up of the new edition of the Sharjah Used Book Fair, which is organised periodically and open throughout the year under the theme “Knowledge Treasure”.

The fair will offer a range of activities such as mobile libraries and allocated areas to display books in public parks and commercial centres. It will also hire specialised staff for this purpose. Sheikha Jamila’s directives come under the framework of continuously promoting and achieving the festival’s overall goals.

During a meeting with the heads of the fair’s organising committee, Sheikha Jamila confirmed the organisation of the 7th edition of the fair, to coincide with Sharjah’s coronation as the World Book Capital for 2019. She also urged community members and institutions to donate used books, in preparation for the event.

She said that the fair promotes the culture of volunteering in the community while adding that its volunteers come from different schools, universities and cultural centres, who work together as one family in serving the community and providing the opportunity for everyone to enjoy a rich experience by donating or acquiring books.

The first edition of the Sharjah Used Books Fair was held in April 2006, and the number of available books reached 80,000.

In the second edition in 2007, the number of used books reached 100,000, which increased to 150,000 books in its third edition in 2009, and to 500,000 books in its fourth edition in 2011.— Wam