With the launch of the 28th Muscat International Book Fair on February 22, the popularity of book festivals in Oman is being firmly established.
With the participation of more than 847 publishing houses from more than 34 countries, the book fair will be more than just an opportunity to browse through a vast selection of offerings from across the world.
It will also be an opportunity to listen to writers, publishers and other cultural figures, as well as having an opportunity to attend creative writing workshops.
With the first Muscat Book Fair being inaugurated in 1994, there have been 27 such events so far. Each has focused on a different aspect and region of Oman, and organisers added to the event by introducing seminars, presentations, workshops and children’s corners.
In 2016, during the 21st edition of the Book Fair, 550 exhibitors from 27 countries had participated. It received 250 000 vistors. By contrast, in 2023, 385,000 guests visited the book fair which offered books from over 826 publishing houses.
While book fairs are an opportunity for publishing houses to share and sell their books, they have a larger function in the community. They promote literacy and encourage the reading habit by making it fun and relatable. Hearing from your favourite writers or those who have received international recognition is a once in a lifetime opportunity for many.
Over the years, the Muscat International Book Fair has reached out to more people through outreach programmes in schools and other educational institutions. It has also added various attractions like cultural centres and children’s pavilions which make reading a holistic experience.
One of the most important target groups for book fairs is children. At a time when competing distractions like social media and internet games are available, getting children to read can be a challenge. But that does not mean that it is impossible, as data shows that children are the largest single group of visitors to book fairs.
There are many other challenges to book fairs, including the rise of e-books and self-published digital books. The trick is stay relevant through innovation and experimentation. Such experimentation comes in the form of diversifying the content of the books made available.
The Muscat International Book Fair has its fair share of diversity of reading material. Ranging from books on history and philosophy to interior design and culinary arts, there is something there for everybody.
There are also a number of activity books for children in the form of puzzles, drawing and colouring books, as well as colourfully told stories. Such inventiveness makes the book fair more than just a collection of books but, rather, a literary festival.
It is a very good sign that book festivals continue to attract visitors in large numbers at a time when reading itself is seen to be undervalued.
Offering opportunities to read and interact is important to a reading community. It is a good sign that more guests are visiting book fairs and they continue to be enriched by it.
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