Coimbatore: For the book lovers in the city, there's some good news. The Coimbatore city will get a new library by next year at Peelamedu. From international journals, to children's books and the dog-eared old classics, all kinds of books will be available at the library to be started by by Om Sakthi BooksInternational, a private importers and wholesale distributors of books, informed V. G. Rajan of Omni Books Pvt. Ltd.
While many book stores including the Oxford wound up quietly in Coimbatore due to the heavy competition from the digital market, a book fair on the Race Course is attracting book readers with a wide range of collections at a discounted rate. More than 2 lakh titles from different genres - from fiction and non-fiction books have been imported from the United Kingdom and the US.
There are 'remainders' too, which are the older editions of books which are generally sold at lower prices after publishers bring out newer editions. Interestingly, there is demand of the older editions because it costs less. When e-books are getting popular, is there still space for book fairs and libraries?
“Readers will always be there, who love the smell of old and new books and flapping the pale yellow pages. In my career of more than 25 years serving booksof different taste, I have seen readers from six to sixties who are made about specific books,” said V. G. Rajan.
A 65 per cent discount is available on 70 per cent of books available in the hall. "The demand for fiction and children's book is more among the visitors," said Rajan.
There is a good collection of all the Readers Digest and variety of novels, reference books. "We have been organizing it twice or thrice a year. The main purpose of conducting this book exhibition is to create awareness among people to read books. We want to keep alive the trend of buying books," said Rajan.
Even though the books are on sale at a half price, Rajan believes that they are able to make a profit of 15 per cent. The fair is on till July 7.
