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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Several bookstores in Duhok province face the threat of shutting due to a lack of demand for books, with store owners blaming the ailing financial situation.
Shvan Mohammed, a bookstore owner in Duhok, says the financial situation has led people to be more conservative with their money and spend it on basic necessities rather than books.
“Books are not something essential here and readers do not have to spend their money on books since their income is low,” Mohammed told Rudaw’s Haydar Doski on Saturday.
The lack of demand has also led to a decline in the number of books printed.
“In 2020, we printed 100 books. In 2022 the number decreased a little bit, but in 2023 it was much lower. I can say that until now we have not even printed 50 books,” said Awab Ahmad, another bookstore owner.
In Duhok, there are 14 private libraries and one government-owned library.
In total, less than 100 books have been printed in Duhok in 2023, according to information obtained by Rudaw.
Shvan Mohammed, a bookstore owner in Duhok, says the financial situation has led people to be more conservative with their money and spend it on basic necessities rather than books.
“Books are not something essential here and readers do not have to spend their money on books since their income is low,” Mohammed told Rudaw’s Haydar Doski on Saturday.
The lack of demand has also led to a decline in the number of books printed.
“In 2020, we printed 100 books. In 2022 the number decreased a little bit, but in 2023 it was much lower. I can say that until now we have not even printed 50 books,” said Awab Ahmad, another bookstore owner.
In Duhok, there are 14 private libraries and one government-owned library.
In total, less than 100 books have been printed in Duhok in 2023, according to information obtained by Rudaw.
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