Baghdad Book Fair - about 3 million titles and bestselling literature

Laith Nateq - Baghdad

Under the theme "One book more than life" and with the participation of more than 650 local and foreign publishers, the International Book Fair, which runs until February 18, will be held in Baghdad.

The Baghdad Book Fair was held in Baghdad in 1979 but was held intermittently and was not regular. However, after 2003, it organized six regular copies and won Arab and international recognition, the seventh of which was considered by the organizers of the largest exhibition at the book fair in Iraq.

Millions of titles
The edition of this year has an impressive Arab and foreign presence, with publishing houses and academic institutions from more than 35 Arab and foreign countries. The number of publishing houses and libraries is 650, And the proxy presence. And distributed over an area of ​​ten thousand square meters, the largest area in the history of the Baghdad Book Fair, and the number of addresses displayed pavilions and shelves of the exhibition to three million titles according to the management estimates of the exhibition.

The Baghdad Book Fair is under the direct supervision of the Iraqi Publishers Association, and the association coordinates with local and foreign participants and manages the fair.

The President of the Federation of Iraqi Publishers d. Abdulwahab Al-Radi that he is seeking, in coordination with the Arab and International Publishers Unions, to make this edition a success because of the importance of such an activity for Iraqi society.

"Baghdad knows that it is the biggest reader and now it is in dire need of the book," al-Radi told Al Jazeera.net.

high demand
In the 2018 edition, the Book Fair in Baghdad witnessed a large audience, with attendance exceeding one million, according to the management of the exhibition. The number is expected to double this year, given the high attendance of its first days.

"I did not expect this great turnout, I participated in many Arab exhibitions, and I am sure that this exhibition is one of the most popular and popular visitors," said Ghayath Younis, a library owner from Syria, who was impressed by the large number of visitors.

The exhibition opens at 9 am and closes at 9 pm.

The books are varied, and there is no prohibition on a particular title or genre. But literary books such as poetry and novel precede other sales, says Nabi's publisher, Naji Abdel-Zahra. He presents books in philosophy, politics and society, but book sales Literary superiority of all.

Children's share
Many of the attendees accompany their children to strengthen their relationship with the book. The children's space is allocated to 15 children. And intends to host 300 orphans in its current version in coordination with an organization that cares for orphans.

On the sidelines of the exhibition, seminars, evenings and lectures for academic and literary figures of various nationalities are held throughout the year. Violence, politics and the economy are particularly popular this year, with literature and poetry retaining their large share. The exhibition attracted intellectuals and writers led by Portuguese novelist Avonso Crouch.

The publishing houses hold signing parties for their publications in the presence of their authors, who attract more visitors and readers.

The Iraqi writer Abdul Zahra Zaki - one of the writers who celebrated their publications in the exhibition - surprised by the presence and organization of large, and says the island Net that the exhibition is witnessing a heavy presence, and organization at a high level parallel to the large international exhibitions.

Various slides
The book fair in Baghdad attracts readers of different classes and ages, roaming families among the libraries and pavilions of the exhibition, and youth groups taking photographs and collecting the titles of interest to them.

Ghaith Mohammed, one of the visitors to the exhibition, meets an old friend by accident, exchanging chatter and laughter in the exhibition area and taking pictures alongside the work of Star Nima, who is in the middle of the exhibition grounds.

"I did not specify anything, but I will buy the books that I will find appealing to its content after I read its title and know its author," Ghaith said.