Muscat: Families and youngsters flocked to the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre on the first weekend after the 28th edition of Muscat International Book Fair kicked off on Wednesday, flouting the cries from some corners that the habit of reading is fading amongst the youth.
The festival of letters that runs until March 2 with over 622,000 titles taking part including approximately 269,000 Arabic books and 200,000 foreign books. Omani collection comprises 19,000 books.
There are as many as 35,989 newly issued publications which are published between 2023 and 2024, a whopping number compared to previous edition.
From across the world, 847 publishing houses from 34 countries have flown in to make their presence felt at the book fair. Of these, 676 publishers are participating directly and 171 others are participating through agents.
A series of events for children and families include workshops, an Arabic language corner, a children’s museum, a green corner for environment-friendly activities and cultural cafés. On Friday, a high-level debate will be held at the Ibn Duraid Hall and Al Otaid by the Cultural Committee in cooperation with the Ministry of Information where Dr Habib Abdul Rab Soruri, Dr Omid Alzao, A Doe Khamis, Dr Frank Mirameh, Dr David Mersch, Ahmed Zaid, Mansoura Ezz Al-Did, Abdo Wazed, Badr al Hamoud will participate while the session will be moderated by Dr Aisha al Darmaki.
At the pavilion of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, Dr Raya bint Salem al Mundhiriyah will lead another session while the session will be managed by Badr al Shaibani. Under the auspices of the Sultan Qaboos University, Dr Ali al Riyami will lead another session where the visitors are welcomed.
The Al Dhahirah Governorate, the guest of honour at the current edition of the book fair, has been accorded a special pavilion that showcases the intellectual and cultural history of the governorate. Hundreds of thousands of titles on cultural, intellectual and scientific topics are up for a grab while the the pavilion of the Ministry of Information hosts four sections representing the Oman News Agency (ONA), the Directorate General of Electronic Media (Ayn platform and the media portal), Nizwa Magazine and the Directorate General of Publications and Artistic Works.
The Al Dhahirah Governorate’s pavilion is showcasing its rich tapestry of history as well as the present features that make the governorate stand out from the rest in terms of tourist attractions and other features. Side by side, there are book signing ceremonies in which a number of authors participate besides a number of agreement signing ceremonies that will see institutions ink contracts with authors and related procedures.
The book fair’s Data Centre offers services that include electronic application, mobile indexing and a 3-D map of the Muscat International Book Fair 2024. Jalees Child: Jalees Child is a noble concept which is formed by children who take the lead to form, organise and execute innovative projects. Children from 8 different schools in Muscat Governorate came together to form the group the motive of which is to interview people with substance and to learn from them. These future generation of Oman aged between 8 to 14 are ambitious, with plans to become diplomats, doctors, journalists, teachers and pilots.
"We are thrilled to see so many titles together at once and get inspired," the kids, led by a teacher told the Observer.
The 28th edition of the book fair is pulling both citizens and expatriates alike with its diverse range of activities which includes activities organised by the Cultural Committee, government institutions and private establishments, including poetry evenings, symposiums, lectures, training seminars and theatrical performances.
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