LEBANON (Enmaeya Features) - October 24, 2025
Lebanon’s book industry is facing major challenges due to an unprecedented economic crisis. With people’s purchasing power dropping and the Lebanese pound changing constantly against the dollar, many bookstores are struggling to stay open.
Despite these difficulties, books remain important, and reading continues to be a way of life. At the same time, traditional bookstores face tough competition from online pages that sell pirated books at very low prices, putting the sector in a difficult situation that needs official attention.
Pricing Problems and Big Losses
In an interview with Enmaeya, the owner of Halabi “Book Shop,” said that the economic crisis made it very hard to set prices in the first months because the dollar kept changing. This caused big losses for bookstores. He explained, “Back in the 1500s, a book cost 5,000 Lebanese pounds, which people could afford. When the dollar reached 30,000 pounds, we sold it at 15,000 pounds, losing 50% of the book’s value.”
He added that sales went down because people’s money was frozen in banks and they focused on essential needs like food.
Books as a Way of Life and a Special Experience
Despite the challenges, he said, “Books are permanent, and readers will buy them no matter the price. Reading is a lifestyle.”
He also explained that bookstores today try to give customers a better experience, with reading areas and help in choosing the right books, making a visit more than just buying something.
Online Competition and Copyright Issues
The owner also expressed concern about online pages selling pirated books at very low prices, which hurts traditional bookstores and the publishing industry.
He said, “Educated readers can tell the difference between original and fake books, but unfortunately, the Ministry of Culture and Education does not focus on this issue, and publishers face high legal costs if they try to take action.” He asked the ministry to “check these pages and protect copyrights.”
Print Newspapers and Lebanon’s Cultural History
He also spoke about the importance of printing newspapers. His bookstore, which was founded 65 years ago, keeps a complete archive of Lebanese newspapers, including old war reports and the death of Ziad Rahbani. This shows how bookstores help preserve Lebanon’s culture and history.
The print newspapers currently available include An-Nahar, L’Orient-Le Jour, Al-Liwaa, *Ad-Diyar, Al-Akhbar, Al Sharq, Nidaa Al-Watan, and Al-Arabi Al-Jadeed.
Despite all these challenges, the future of Lebanon’s book industry depends on government support and copyright protection. Readers continue to value culture and knowledge, and books remain a key part of Lebanon’s cultural life.
