Shakir Ubaid Al-Jubouri inside his bookstore in Wasit. (Photo: 964media)
'Circumstances have changed'
‘Big decline’: Wasit bookstore owner struggles as digital screens dominate
WASIT — For 32 years, Shakir Ubaid Al-Jubouri has kept his small bookstore in Al-Suwaira’s main market open in Wasit Governorate, even as fewer locals pick up a printed book and more turn to digital devices.
Al-Jubouri, owner of “Al-Suwaira Bookstore,” launched his business in 1993 with a modest display of books outside his shop. Over time, his humble venture grew into a well-known destination for readers in the community.
“Despite people moving away from reading, I still lay out and arrange the books, even if I am my only customer,” he told 964media.
Today, however, the owner faces mounting challenges. As mobile phones and digital platforms replace traditional reading habits, Al-Jubouri’s once-bustling bookstore now struggles to attract customers. “Today, circumstances have changed, and people now prefer reading on their phones, which has made the bookstore struggle to survive,” he said.
The decline in printed book sales is evident in the reduced number of visitors—many of whom browse without buying. “There’s a big decline in reading. People now come just to look, with no intention of purchasing,” he added.
Editor-in-chief of the local Al-Ufuq Magazine, Abbas Khalaf, sees the trend as part of a broader cultural shift. “The decline in reading is the main reason behind the struggles of printed books,” Khalaf said. He continued, “Social media has notably contributed to the decline in demand for books, in addition to the ease of accessing information from digital sources. A mobile phone can provide you with more than a thousand books without any effort.”
