Pay for 1, read a dozen

Ever wondered whatever happened to all those circulating libraries that used to be the staple diet of middleclass readers? We wondered too, and investigated the missing phenomenon in depth and across the city, only to realise that they had graduated to become full-fledged bookstores… that sold, hired and bought back books

 

Independent Book Exhibition

Snugly sitting in a corner of Narayan Nayak Complex alloted by the government to displaced booksellers of Koti, Independent Book Exhibition has come a long way. Racks of books, mostly academic, make this a regular haunt of students. Tauseef, a fourth-year engineering student is one such regular here. “I’ve never had any missing-pages problem here,” he clarifies on asking. “I shall bring my sister, who also needs books, later on,” so saying to the proprietor of the store, he leaves. The proprietor Md Imamuddin explains the popularity of the store with, “Any book that a regular customer asks for that we may not have, we arrange.”

 

MR Book Centre

Opposite Lifestyle in Begumpet is a well-stocked bookstore. With a variety of subjects ranging from advertising to cookery and philosophy to fiction, MR Book Centre is a bookworm’s delight. The best thing about it is the meticulous categorising of their ware. “Can you imagine buying five books for only Rs.200 anywhere else?” asks an exited Vamshi of Ramanthpur holding them up. “We have a buy-back scheme that works out to reading charges of Rs.25 per book,” says Md Raziuddin manning the store, going on to add, “Not just the low pricing, we also excel in the fact that we have some rare books on painting, cookery and science.”

 

Sri Venkateshwara Book Exhibition

In the basement of Narayan Nayak Complex at Koti is Sri Venkateshwara Book Exhibition, which specialises in sale of educational books, particularly engineering text books and guides for entrance tests. These books and many more can be bought here at fancy prices. Well-maintained second-hand books are available here at discounts that vary from 40–50 per cent. On the breakup of old and new books, Ashok of the store says, “We have regular buyers whose requirements we cater to. About 70 per cent of our sales is second-hand books.”

 

Raja Lakshmi Book Centre

Of about sixty stalls in the subway below Andhra Bank at Koti is Raja Lakshmi Book Centre. A partner of the bookstall G Raju informs that there is a demand for guides, be it for the degree, inter or school level. He goes on to explain that they sell books at discounted rates and also buy them back. Koti has made a name for itself as the hub of books of all kinds in the twin cities; and, at attractive rates. “A customer pays us only Rs60 for a book that costs Rs.100. After reading it when the customer comes back to us with the book, we buy it for Rs.36,” says Raju.

 

 

Tags: bookstores, Hyderabad, Independent Book Exhibition, MR Book Centre, Raja Lakshmi Book Centre, Sri Venkateshwara Book Exhibition

Category: Books