Amal Al-Sibai

Saudi Gazette

 

JEDDAH — All those bookworms out there don't want miss out on the opportunity to stock up on a tall pile of good books — all at less than a quarter of their original price.



Alwaraq bookstore is the place to shop for books for your entire family, get discounts, and at the same time feel the satisfaction of giving them to others. When you shop here, the proceeds gained from the book sales will be donated to the orphaned children in Taif. 



This year marks the third exhibition for secondhand books that offer a wide and varied collection of valuable books, such as Islamic, science, sociology, history, and inspirational self-improvement books, fiction novels, and international school text books of all subjects, which are otherwise extremely expensive.  You would be surprised by the collection of how-to books for almost all hobbies: art, drawing, painting, baking, cooking, home-decorating, fishing and caring for house pets. 



The children's section at Alwaraq is truly a treasure as it is rich with enjoyable picture books, coloring books, reading books, flash cards, and other learning materials in English and Arabic.



So many hands and innovative minds form our society have come together to make this bookstore such a successful project.



For months before the commencement of the book exhibition, Alwaraq bookstore has been receiving loads of boxes of used books from generous people and organizations.



Volunteers filter through all the books and pick those that are in excellent condition to be tagged at very low prices after which, they are organized and neatly arranged on bookshelves for visitors of the exhibition.



Books that are in poor condition, out-dated or obsolete are sent for recycling. The hard work of the volunteers and the staff is complete and the bookstore is finally opening its doors to children, men, and women to visit and indulge in their passion for books.



The exhibition will be running from September 24 until October 2 every day from 10a.m to 8 p.m and on Friday from 4 p.m to 8 p.m.



You may want to hurry up as books are rapidly disappearing from the shelves.



Alwaraq bookstore is located in Al-Khaledeya District and can be contacted at 606-1531.



A larger shop is available right next to the bookstore where you can catch some amazing deals on a host of household items, antiques, and children’s toys.



"At this secondhand shop, we accept everything that is no longer needed by you as individuals, families, schools,and companies.



"We rearrange, organize the items, and have them reasonably priced and placed for customers to view.



"Income generated from the sales goes to support the widowed and orphans and to medicate the poor," said Abeer, one of the main founders of this shop, named "Mawakeb Alajr" or Caravan of Good.



This secondhand shop serves to benefit all segments of society, those who want to do away with their excess belongings, those in need who rely on the gains from the sales, and those who simply have an eye for beautiful things and love to shop without spending too much money.