SCHS ORGANIZES USED BOOK FAIR ON THE FIRST SATURDAY OF EVERY MONTH
Upon the instructions of Her Highness Sheikha Jameela bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Director General of Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services (SCHS), and after taking all safety and security measures, SCHS has organized the experimental opening of Used Book Fair on Saturday, September 5, 2020, afternoon. The Used Book Fair, scheduled on the first Saturday of every month, is hosted at SCHS’s headquarters in Yarmouk area (Sharjah).
Mr. Jihad Abdul Qader, General Coordinator of the Fair, has confirmed that the exhibition comes as a practical response to the requests received from the community following the great success of the Used Book Festival. The city has been organizing the festival periodically since 2006. The city organized the seventh edition (Buy a book, light a path) during last February within the activities of Sharjah, the World Book Capital. The seventh edition included (one million) titles in all fields at very nominal prices.
He said, “80 thousand visitors came to the Palm Garden on the banks of Khalid Lake in Sharjah within the four days of the seventh session of the Used Book Festival. Most of them were calling not only for an increase in the festival days, but rather to make it open all the week because of the valuable books it provides at very nominal prices (from two dirhams to 20 dirhams only). The new exhibition will introduce people to city’s headquarters and the services it provides to its students of all disabilities”.
Mr. Jihad talked about the most important goals of the festival and its new arrangement, the Used Book Fair, such as spreading culture, knowledge, and consolidating a culture of volunteering by providing an opportunity for those wishing to volunteer, including people with disabilities.
He explained that the exhibition provides visitors of various age, demographic, and social groups with a valuable opportunity to obtain books, and learn more about diverse cultures. Not to mention the great benefit provided by used books for the environment, as the circulation of books reduces the logging that factories use to make paper, in addition to encouraging reading among friends and family.
While talking about the objectives of the fair and the features of used books, Mr. Jihad did not forget to emphasize the social aspect and the book search process that resembles the treasure hunt because of its unique experience. He has confirmed that the proceeds of the festival and exhibition would support the education and training of persons with disabilities in accordance with international best practices.
Through the books that will be available in the exhibition, which are valuable books in a variety of fields, visitors would be able to establish their own libraries at minimal prices. Many books in English are available to everyone.
Abdel Nasser Darwish, Head of the Sorting, Pricing and Presentation Committee, has praised the community participation in the volunteering process. The committee included many mothers of students with disabilities volunteering to help in the process of sorting and classifying books to display in the exhibition optimally.
It was noticeable during the work carried out by the volunteers the positive interaction between them and their ability to conduct the work in a controlled rhythm. The result came in line with the expectations of the active participation of the public and the desire to purchase used books and benefit from their valuable content.
The Head of the Committee pointed out that the books that will be available in the exhibition are valuable books in various fields. He called on everyone to visit the exhibition and acquire books at nominal prices starting from two dirhams and up to twenty dirhams. Books available in English are abundant and on various topics.
In spite of the conditions caused by (Covid 19), the experimental opening of the exhibition witnessed a remarkable turnout from the various groups of society. The student at the University of Sharjah Shamma Abdulaziz stresses the importance of the exhibition in providing the opportunity to acquire valuable books at unbelievable prices and to spread culture among the community.
Whereas, the volunteer in the User Book Fair and a member of the Mothers Council at Al-Wafa School for Capacity Development, Nagham Salman (Umm Zain) praised the city’s keenness to promote reading and volunteering as an ethical and social behavior. She noted the great positive impact of this civilized behavior on the progress and prosperity of societies.