The United States Embassy booth at the Doha International Book Fair ( DIBF) 2022 has 7,000 books as well as 3,000 other resources, an official from the embassy told Gulf Times.
“We have a record inventory of over 7,000 books for purchase at discounted prices. In addition we have another 3,000 free resources for people who want to study and learn about the United States. Altogether we have more than 10,000 books at the book fair this year,” said Morgan Cassell, US diplomat /press attaché, US embassy.
Cassell also disclosed that the year 2022 marks the 50th year of Qatar US diplomatic relations. “The whole year is exciting for us as we have several events to celebrate the milestone. There will be frequent events all through the year and many plans are in the pipeline to celebrate the occasion,” she said.
As for the participation in the book fair, she said that it is a celebration of American literature and culture. "The book categories by renowned American authors include everything from children’s books to best sellers. We are the guest of honour at the Doha International Book Fair as the Qatar- US Year of Culture 2021 is coming to an end here in Qatar and the US,” she continued.
The official said that the focus of the US booth at the book fair is on education, literacy and space exploration.
“We have a long history of several successful space explorations in the US. We really encourage study of science and technology. Our booth is designed by a celebrated Arab-American designer Christina Khater, with a futuristic design showcasing how literacy and learning are key tools for innovation and enabling humanity to reach its highest potential. We are showcasing women empowerment, science and technology and the strength of our relationship with Qatar at the event,” explained, Cassell.
She said that books on display at the booth range from fiction to biographies and other best sellers. “We have collections from some of the most renowned American authors including Asian Americans, Arab Americans, African Americans and others, a wide section of authors that the US has to offer. We have a true diverse collection of books. Though all the books are in English, we have books that discuss Arab culture, learning about Islam and several aspects of Arab heritage and traditions,” noted the official.
As for Qatar-US Year of Culture-2021, the press attache said that the programme has shown the strength of the relationship between both the countries. She commented: “We have showcased Qatar all the way from New York to Los Angles and other cities in the US. Here in Qatar, we have had several events ranging from fashion to music, culture, culinary experience, information on education in the US among others. So we are constantly renewing and revitalising our ties with Qatar on many fronts. Our relations with Qatar are very strong and this is also exhibited in the book fair too.”
"We are very proud to be the guest of honour at this prestigious event. Language and literacy is something that we hold very important. The values that we share with our Qatari partners are language, literacy and education. We are here to encourage and instill these values among the young readers and all others," added Cassell.
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Children allowed
from today evening
Children under 12 will be allowed to attend the 31st Doha International Book Fair (DIBF) from today until it concludes on January 22, from 4pm to 9pm, according to information available on the DIBF 2022 website. This will be done while taking all necessary measures to ensure their safety, the Ministry of Culture said in a related statement on social media yesterday.
