If you are a book lover, stroll into the Vel Sokkanathan Thirumana Nilayam and take your pick from an estimated one lakh titles on display.
The 18 National Book Fair hosted by the Puducherry Cooperative Book Society which opened here has displayed a collection that touches virtually every known genre.
Chances of even the casual visitor returning empty-handed are remote given the range of titles on display.
The books range across textbooks, dictionaries and computer-related tomes, literature, cookery and self-improvement.
Chief Minister N. Rangasamy launched the event which concludes on December 28.
Over 100 publishers and distributors from all over India are participating in the ten-day exhibition.
Organisers have offered a 10 per cent discount for visitors and 15 per cent cut for libraries and institutions.
Last year, the book fair grossed Rs. 80 lakh and expectations are that the sales this time would be in the vicinity of Rs. 90 lakh.
The novelty, this year, are the schemes offered by the book society as a sales promotion incentive.
For instance, those who purchase books for Rs. 200, or multiples of Rs. 200, would be issued coupons. At the end of each day, a lottery is held and the winner gets Rs. 500 worth of books. Under a special awards promotion scheme, anyone making a purchase of Rs. 50,000 or more will be conferred the ‘Book Maharaja/Maharani’ Award 2014 along with a certificate.
If one makes a purchase of Rs. 10,000, one can earn the title of ‘Book Raja/Rani 2014 Award’ while a purchase value of Rs. 1,000 or more would fetch one the ‘Book Lover 2014’ certificate.