RIYADH: The Riyadh International Book Fair 2011, which opened last Tuesday, is attracting large numbers of people, especially families. Organized at the sprawling Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center (RICEC), this year's book fair features 700 national and international publishing houses, distributers and retail booksellers under one roof. Abdul Aziz M. Khoja, Minister of Culture and Information, who opened the 11-day book fair, said that Saudi men and women have not only developed the reading habit but they are also interested in modern means of communication. Because of the large number of people visiting the fair, many have difficulty finding parking places in areas near the venue, particularly in the evening hours when the rush is at its peak. The security at this year's fair is unprecedented. Visitors are required to pass through metal detectors installed at the entrance, and the Commission for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (Hai'i) has deployed a large contingent of their officials to prevent mischief makers from entering the center. The wide range of titles, 280,000 in number, on topics that include Islam, comparative religion, Arab culture, fiction, law, science and technology among others, has made the fair a unique one-stop shop for those who read books not only as a source of information but to understand different cultures and learn about the way that other people live. The books available in the fair are in Arabic, Persian, English, French, Turkish and Urdu. A special area has been designated as Children's Corner which features new products targeting young minds, such as educational toys and easy-to-use software and computers. At Children's Corner, a US-based company in partnership with its Saudi counterpart is showcasing hands-on materials for teaching English skills to pre-school children. The CEO of the Saudi company said the Riyadh Book Fair was an ideal occasion to demonstrate the need for English language training for young Saudi children. “Saudi Arabia is keen to introduce English language at the elementary level. However, children need to learn language skills even before they are enrolled in school,” he explained. “We are receiving an encouraging response from the parents of pre-school children and hope to open a center in Riyadh very soon,” he said. Young visitors to Children's Corner are given stickers that read: “I'm out of this world, I am reading”; “Reading is fun”; “I love reading” and “Read every day. Lead a better Life.”
