Al Amn Magazine # 160

29 FEBRUARY 2023 of books in the 1960s to the British city of Hay-on-Wye and made it the world capital of used books. Many booksellers and others were attracted to the city and several libraries were established there. This successful experience made a person named Noel Ancelot develop a similar strategy to transfer her experience to Redu. The bookselling profession in the mid-1980s saved the village, in the French-speaking parts of southern Belgium, from extinction and turned into an archaeological museum. From book sellers to empty barns in the village, it turned it into a literary attraction with libraries displaying and selling books. This was soon followed by those in book-related industries from specialists in binding and packaging and workers in illustration setting up shop. This is what made young families reach the village to settle there. The village is now home to 400 people and has more than 24 libraries. It is a global city for books and a destination for lovers of reading from all over the world. The village is currently facing a number of challenges to survive as a global city for books, as relative calm has descended on the cultural sector and its activities intermittently since the beginning of the Coronavirus pandemic. This is because of the closure decisions and health and prevention measures taken by government authorities in most countries. Libraries faced difficult conditions and variables fluctuated between complete and partial closure, which led to the shutting down of many libraries in the village and now only 12 libraries remain. Library workers, who are no longer able to earn their living, have had to leave due to the low demand for reading books, especially from young people who no longer read as much, thanks to modern technology and social media. Over and above that, with the passing away of some bookstore owners and the departure of workers, many who still remain are in their seventies do not know what will happen to their libraries after their departure. They fear the “Book Village” will turn into an archaeological museum.