Diverse books in  the third Syrian Book Fair 

The third Syrian Book Fair at the Assad National Library in Damascus under the title: “We Read to Rise” was launched last week with the participation of 40 public and private publishing houses, which presented approximately 10 thousand new titles

The book fair displays  diverse books including scientific and educational, publishing houses specializing in children and adults, titles by Syrian and Arab writers. The Fair was also accompanied with Symposiums , screenings of seven films, and two musical evenings and a lecture.

Ahmad Ali Hilal, the head of the Studies, Research and Criticism Association at the General Union of Palestinian Writers and Journalists in Syria, told Syria times that this participation in the fair for the second time is a symbolic participation. The purpose of this participation is to familiarize the reader  with the productions of the union’s members in various fields, especially poetry and novels.

“Therefore, this familiarity with the productions in various fields of Palestinian culture is a kind of bridge of dialogue between the reader and what the members of the Palestinian Writers and Journalists Union produce” he said.

“The pavilion displays books, poetry collections, novels, intellectual, political and social studies, stories for children, and also books by Palestinian prisoners, some of whom have been released and some of whom are still in captivity” Ahmad Ali Hilal added.

“This participation aims to display the books of the union’s members ,to spread the Palestinian Culture”.

Hanan, from the Young Scientists Foundation displays educational products and entertaining at the same time.

She said that when the child learns through play it is the most interactive way for the child – more than the direct method. For example, we have games to develop the child’s intelligence, creative formation, memory activation and concentration.This method also develops creativity in children. In addition, we display products that contain educational scientific competitions, questions and answers for children for different ages and teaching children languages ​​through the talking tablet because the child interacts more in this way, in addition to books and children’s stories. Our aim from the participation in the Fair is to introduce visitors to our products and communicate with them directly to develop our products.

Aya Dashou, Head of the Literary Department at Sibaa House for Art and Literature Foundation told Syria times : Our foundation is concerned with sponsoring talented youth in the field of creative writing ,theater,music, and drawing..

“We are participating in the third Syrian Book Fair for the first time. Our foundation includes approximately 35 publications books that present Syrian culture and document events in Syria, which is part of our project. Our aim in the foundation is to immortalize the impact of the martyrs and immortalize the heroism of the Syrian Arab Army” she said.

“Our aim from participating is to introduce people to our foundation, which specializes in writing and printing, in addition to exchange cultures among the publishing houses” she added.

Another participant, Ahmad from the Arab Center for Arabization, Authorship, Translation and Publishing, which is affiliated with the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) said :Our center translates important foreign scientific references and books in medicine, pharmacy, science, engineering and economics into the Arabic language. We translate them with specialists, print them and sell them at symbolic prices to students.

“We participate in the book fair annually because of people’s demand for scientific books and to introduce people to the Arab Center for Arabization, which was established 35 years ago” he said.

Interviewed and photos : Nada Haj Khidr