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EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

Tiny tots make a beeline for Al Nahdha Book Fair

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By Kaushalendra Singh — SALALAH: March 29 - Schoolchildren made a beeline for books on the first day of Al Nahdha Bookshop Book Fair that opened on Wednesday at the Directorate General of Heritage and Culture in the Governorate of Dhofar.


Some 3,000 titles ranging from religious to motivational, novels, story books and children books are on display at the fair, which will continue till April 15. The children’s section also has learning toys and study materials for children with special needs.


The book fair was opened by Abdul Qadir Ahmed al Haddad, Vice-Chairman of Dhofar Municipality, in the presence of officials from Ministry of Heritage and Culture, Ministry of Information and dignitaries from Dhofar.


Hosted by the Directorate of Heritage and Culture in Dhofar, the book fair has a large number of books on heritage and culture of Oman, besides history books, reference books for research and language and literature.


“The idea behind organising the book fair in the Directorate premises is to give yet another chance to book lovers who missed the fair organised in the premises of Dhofar University recently and offer a platform for writers and culture experts,” said Ahmed bin Salim al Hajri, Director-General of the Directorate General of Heritage and Culture in the Governorate of Dhofar and Chairman of the Supervisory Committee of the book fair.


“There would be 16 cultural, literary and poetic activities, criticism sessions and story readings, in addition to seminars on Arabic language and theatre and copyright,” said.


The participants in the book fair are drawn from the Sultanate, Lebanon, Egypt, Syria, India, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Sudan. Among the visitors, Thamer Ahmed Obaid, Director of Engineering Affairs in Dhofar Municipality, liked the range of books in the fair.


“I liked the venue, because it is in the heart of the city and very easy to locate. Secondly, the building itself has a rich library, which the fair visitors can know about and visit when they feel like. I liked the range and collection of books at the fair, because it caters to all the age groups and different areas of interest,” he said.


Mera Kalario of Hasheela School is happy to participate in the book fair with learning materials for small children and those who have special requirements. “We have good enquiry for study materials for children and for children with special needs we have specialised toys and study materials to develop their motor skills, developing understanding for colours and make them comfortable in a classroom atmosphere.”


She is happy over visit from schools to the book fair, as she gets to know schools’ and students’ requirements and find very good buyers in parents and children themselves.


Writers and culture enthusiasts are happy over series of events scheduled during the 18-day fair span. Some writers who already have their books published are planning book signing while others are ready with selection of stories to take part in the ‘read my story’ part of the event. They are finding it good platform to interact with publishers and new readers.


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