The festival, organized annually by the Beyoğlu Municipality, opened on Tuesday and will continue until Oct. 14 at the outdoor area next to the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) building in the Tepebaşı quarter.
Speaking at Tuesday’s opening, Beyoğlu Mayor Ahmet Misbah Demircan told reporters that the festival was one of the most important events held annually in Beyoğlu. “I believe wholeheartedly that the path that leads to Turkey’s development, strength and growth is through books. … We’ll be taking a plunge into a colorful world of [rare books], posters, photographs, handwritten manuscripts and even vinyl records in this festival,” he said.
Sixty-five booksellers who run stores located in Beyoğlu, Kadıköy, Beyazıt, Moda, Sarıyer, Ortaköy and Şişli are taking part in the festival, the Anatolia news agency reported on Tuesday.
Showcased at the bibliopoles’ stands are old, rare and out-of-print books as well as manuscripts in Ottoman Turkish and various other languages, first edition and autographed books, old newspapers, periodicals and comic books and ephemera.
Bibliopole Emin Nedret İşli, who was accompanying Demircan during the opening, said these kinds of festivals helped lower the average age of book lovers who come to visit their stores. “We are now seeing younger people visit bibliopole stores. And this gives us a brighter outlook for the future,” he said. The festival is open daily from 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
(Today’s Zaman)
