SHARJAH IS THE WORLD BOOK CAPITAL AND SCHS AT THE HEART OF THE EVENT
As part of the activities marking Sharjah as World Book Capital and with more than one million books, Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services (SCHS) is going to organize, the Seventh Used Book Fair from February 26 to 29, 2020, at Palm Park on the shores of Khalid Lake, Sharjah.
Her Highness Sheikha Jameela bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Director General of SCHS, has confirmed SCHS keenness to organize the fair since 2006 in line with the cultural approach that His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of the Emirate of Sharjah established. She said, “Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services aims by organizing the fair to enhance the value and importance of books and encourage reading. It also aims to enhance the value of voluntary work and provide innovative financial revenues that contribute to support programs and services that SCHS offers to persons with disabilities in accordance with the best international practices, in addition to raising awareness of their issues and rights in every area of life”.
She pointed out the moral and cultural impact that the Used Book Fair has on volunteers. It gives them an opportunity to participate voluntarily in all its stages, in addition to the precious opportunity it provides for its visitors from different ages and social groups to buy books and acquire knowledge.
She pointed out that SCHS is arranging to (institutionalize) the Used Book Fair so it stays open all the year by allocating a permanent place to display books. She believes that reading books guides people in life and contribute to nations’ advancement.
Her Highness Sheikha Jameela talked about SCHS efforts, despite being an institution specialized in working with persons with disabilities, in organizing many activities targeting all members of society. SCHS believes in the integration of society’s institutions and its active role in the process of raising awareness of society’s issues, especially the issues of persons with disabilities, through collaborative work to enhance cooperation with these institutions and other local, regional, and international bodies in order to achieve the best results.
The Director General of SCHS mentioned that the first edition of the Used Book Fair began in April 2006. The number of books displayed in that year was 80 thousand books. Then, the number of books increased in 2007 to become (100 thousand). The number became (150 thousand) in 2009. In the fourth edition, which was in 2011, the number of books was (500,000 thousand). The number of books increased more and more in the years 2013 and 2016 to reach in 2020 more than one million books as indicated by supervisors who have been working in sorting and pricing books since months.
The Chair of the Higher Committees of the Used Book Fair spoke about volunteers’ contribution from the first moments of preparation to the closing day of the fair’s activities. There are persons with disabilities among volunteers who would work to make the event succeeds because they believe in the importance of knowledge and the spread of culture among members of society.
For his part, Mr. Jihad Abdel Qader, the General Coordinator of the Fair, has confirmed that the preparations for this year event started since last May, when the Director General of SCHS conducted a meeting to form committees, assign their heads, and tasks.
He said, “A while ago, volunteers started sorting, classifying, and pricing books. Before this, people from around the country started donating books to the fair, which indicates the success of this event year after year”.
“The work is continuing to implement the directives of Her Highness Sheikha Jameela bint Mohammed Al Qasimi to develop the Used Book Fair through perfect organization, innovative ideas, and the increase in the number of displayed books and revenues that serves the public interest of persons with disabilities and the society. In the same time maintaining the pricing of books in the fair between one dirham and twenty dirhams, thus allowing everyone to acquire valuable books at reasonable prices” added Abdel Qader.
The General Coordinator explained that a group of cultural, social and recreational events would accompany the fair. He confirmed that this fair deserves all support especially as it is the first of its kind at the state level since its inception in 2006 in terms of the idea and organization. The fair reflects a bright image of Sharjah, which has interest in everything that promotes human culture.
To conclude, Abdel Qader pointed to the complete harmony between fair’s objectives and the wise approach of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, who does not spare an effort to spread culture and knowledge in United Arab Emirates.