MANAMA, 7 March — “How much is this book?” asked one Bahraini female schoolteacher.
“Sorry madam! These books are for display only,” replied the Saudi standing behind the stall of the General Presidency of Youth Welfare.
It’s the same situation with all the official Saudi sectors participating at Al-Ayam 10th International Book Fair at the Bahrain International Exhibition Center here in Manama. The fair is scheduled to end tomorrow. The General Presidency of Youth Welfare is the sole cultural institution representing literary clubs in the Kingdom and the Saudi Society for Culture and Arts.
“All the literary products of these clubs and societies are for display only,” said Abdulhafeez Al-Shammary, a Saudi short story writer. “If anyone asks for a certain book, we provide them with an address to write to,” he told Arab News.
Unsurprisingly, Saudi intellectuals and writers head to international publishing houses if they have something to publish.
Books by prominent Saudi writers, such as Gazi Al-Gosaibi, Abdullah Al-Gathami and Turki Al-Hamad, are displayed only on stalls not owned by Saudi organizations.
Apart from governmental departments, there are about 13 private Saudi publishing houses or libraries taking part in this exhibition.
Bahrain’s annual international book fair is the most important cultural event in the Gulf, attracting thousands of Saudis who travel via King Fahad Causeway in search of interesting titles.
More than 300 Arab publishers are taking part, displaying some 25,000 books — most at a 25 percent discount.
