Meanwhile in Groningen, Netherlands - WINDOW SHOPPING AT FOLKINGESTRAAT, THE ILAB POP UP BOOK STREET 2016

Books at the barber, take a book for a necklace, an elegant cocktail dress with books, take a Whisky and a book, buy bookish fruits at the grocery, toys and books for your children and have you ever thought of reading a book without having chocolate?

It was a big success in 2015, and they have decided to do it again today, 23 April 2016: Lyseth Belt and Theo Butterhof of Antiquariaat Isis, with the support of their local community, are running the second edition of a rather special ILAB Pop Up celebration of UNESCO World Book and Copyright Day. Before the Second World War Groningen’s Folkingestraat with the beautiful Synagogue was the heart of the Jewish community. Today it is a lively and busy quarter, full of small and independent shops, full of bookish and cultural events, a must go to for every visitor in the Netherlands. Today Folkingestraat is even more unique: with the ILAB flag flying high above the street it is the worldwide only ILAB Pop Up Book Street!    

Folkingestraat is full of wonders!

Enjoy the window shopping or have a look at the exhibition of Jewish books at the Synagogue. Give your own children's books in English or Arabic to the refugees currently living in Groningen. Or fix the price for your favourite book at Antiquariaat Isis, buy it for that price and donate the money to UNESCO's and Forest Whitaker's literacy projects in South Sudan!

Tot ziens!

April 2016 – For immediate release. Pictures: ILAB, UNESCO, the organizers

2.15 pm, Groningen - A walk through Folkingestraat, the ILAB Pop Up Book Fair Street 2015!

Lyseth Belt and Theo Butterhof of Antiquariaat Isis have been preparing for the great day for weeks! On Twitter, on their websites, and in the press they promoted their great idea to not only hold an ILAB Pop Up Book Fair but to create a whole ILAB Pop Up Book Fair Street. Flags were printed, posters were fixed, and the decorations for the many shopping windows in Folkingestraat were arranged.  See how the ILAB Pop Up Book Fairs on UNESCO World Book and Copyright Day 2015 are celebrated in Groningen, Netherlands. Marvellous! Fantastic!

Groningen, Folkingestraat, and Antiquariaat Isis are preparing for UNESCO World Book and Copyright Day!

An ILAB Pop Up Book Fair Street on 23 April! Wow!

In the old centre of Groningen is the former Jewish neighbourhood where you will find the Folkingestraat. It is surely the most surprising shopping street in the Netherlands. This most attractive small street is lined with about fifty shops and is home to a beautiful synagogue. In an inspiring example of working cooperatively Antiquariaat Isis, the only ILAB affiliate and member of the Dutch Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association (NVvA) in this area, is organising a unique celebration of UNESCO World Book and Copyright Day. For eight hours on April 23rd the Folkingestraat will become an ILAB Pop Up Book Street!

On this very special day the synagogue  and every business  in the street, whether they sell books or not, will work together to promote books and literacy. In every  window along the Folkingestraat the business owners will create displays which celebrate the diversity and importance of books. Their windows will tell the story of what books mean to them,  feature their favourite books, show books about the products they sell. In the window of the Halal butcher you can see, for example, books from the 18th century about cattle.  In the nearby toy shop there will be an exhibition of old children’s books. Wandering along the Folkingestraat on April 23rd will be a treat for booklovers and an inspiration for those who have not had the opportunity to see such treasures before. 

On reaching the synagogue you will be invited to watch the movie ‘Stanley and Iris’ which stars Robert de Niro and Jane Fonda. This film, based on the book ‘Union Street’ by Pat Barker tells a powerful story which illustrates the huge handicap  illiteracy is and the enormous power of being able to read. At the three bookstores on Folkingestraat , Antiquariaat Isis, Albert Hogeveen, De Wijde Wereld, and at the synagogue members of the public will be invited to join the fight for  literacy by donating to UNESCO’s Sudan literacy program.

 

> What a great idea and a wonderful way to celebrate UNESCO World Book and Copyright Day!