The nation’s first appraisal of rare books will take place in Taipei as the highlight of a reading festival featuring old and secondhand publications, event organizers said yesterday.
“We have invited three local professionals to appraise books people bring in, but it will not be very formal or serious. It is expected to be more like a gathering for bibliophiles to exchange and share,” said Wang Ping (王品), project convener of the Taiwan Cultural-Creative Development Foundation.
Although the event scheduled for today is being held for the first time, hundreds of book lovers have visited the festival’s Facebook page to express their interest in bringing their rare collections to the event, Wang added.
Unlike other reading festivals held throughout Taiwan, the month-long Huashan Reading Festival, which runs until May 15, focuses on more than 50,000 old and secondhand books and publications, some of which date back to 1982 or before.
“Old books are still new books. Old books that you have never read before are just like new ones to you,” the convener said. “Even though they are old, they are still worth reading.”
Taiwan is known for its considerable quantity of publications, so it is also a good opportunity for publishing houses to reduce inventory and for bargain hunters to pick up some gems, she said.
“The books here are about 70 percent off, so I can save a fortune,” said Ted Liao, a book lover who had just started hunting, but had already picked out a handful of books.
With another secondhand book flea market taking place at the same venue over the weekend, the festival is expected to attract thousands of visitors over the two days, the organizers said.
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