Readers browse at the Seik Ku Cho Cho book fair, held at Lokanat Art Gallery August 18 to 23. Pic: Aung Tun Win

THE worn and creaky steps leading up to Lokanat Art Gallery on the first floor of a colonial building on Pansodan Road have felt the tread of countless people who have stopped by to see art exhibitions over the years.

Founded in 1971, Lokanat has long been a gathering place for artists in Yangon, and at least one art exhibition is held there every month.

But there are some occasions when the gallery is crowded with lovers of literature rather than art. This occurs when publishing houses hold book fairs to celebrate special occasions, such as the anniversary of their founding.

The first book fair in Yangon was held in 1998 to commemorate Myanmar Writers’ Day, an event that has been repeated every year since. Bookshops that participate typically sell out their stock, which they offer at discounts of 10 to 20 percent during the fair.

Private-sector bookshops and publishing houses such as Yar Pyae, Pho Thin Naing and Thiha Yadanar have also held fairs at Lokanat since 2000 to celebrate special milestones.

“I held fairs in 2001 and 2004 but haven’t done it since then because they are quite costly,” said Pho Thin Naing of Pho Thin Naing Bookshop, adding that printing pamphlets, book catalogues and posters for fairs can cost more than K1 million.

But U San Oo, owner of Seik Ku Cho Cho publishing house, remains enthusiastic about the value of book fairs. He held one at Lokanat from August 18 to 23 to celebrate the seventh anniversary of his press.

He said he organised similar events for the company’s third and fourth anniversaries.

“Book fairs are the only way for book lovers and publishers to have direct contact,” he said. “And we reduce the prices of our books as much as possible for buyers.”

The seventh anniversary fair – where more than 250 titles were on display, from novels and reprints of classics to nonfiction works on religion, business, beauty and history – was crowded with book buyers.

“I want to buy all the classic books of Shwe U Daung,” said Ma Mi Mi Win, who already held three books in her hands.

“Publishing houses that have been in business for many years have too much stock to display on the shelves of bookshops, so these fairs give us a chance to show everything and get them directly into the hands of readers,” U San Oo said.

Another reader, U Mya Han, said he loved to visit fairs to buy books.
“It’s good for book lovers to be able to see all sorts of books under one roof,” he said.

“Picking books at a bookshop is wonderful, but it’s even better to get them at a discount at fairs,” he added with a smile, pointing out that the four books he bought at the fair for K12,000 would have cost him K15,000 at a bookshop.
Another browser, Ko Aung Naing, said he was happy to finally get a copy of Shwe U Daung’s The Lifelong Diary of Shwe U Daung.

“I’ve wanted this book for a long time, but whenever I find copies in old bookshops it’s too expensive – K12,000 for a four-volume set,” he said. “Here, I was able to get a hardcover version with all four volumes in one for K5500.”

“These fairs are great – they’re like a grand festival for book lovers,” he said.