The book market in Kharkov, which is popularly called "Beam", or, officially, "Paradise", is the largest retail outlet in the city for the sale of books. The market is an independently functioning infrastructure.
The Origin of the Book Trade
At the beginning of the 20th century, namely in the 19-20s, the spontaneous sale of books arose. Since the Soviet government officially prohibited the sale of books from hand to hand, law-abiding citizens should have purchased them only in specialized bookstores. However, some Kharkovites continued to sell literature on the streets. To do this, they chose a convenient place near the Annunciation Cathedral, on the Bursatsky Descent or on the territory of the embankment near the Lopansky Bridge.
Law enforcement officers, in turn, tried to carefully monitor the order and, in case of violation, detained book sellers. So, for example, the area around the Lopansky bridge was not chosen by chance. Since the bridge was located at the junction of 3 districts of the city, it was possible to cross to the opposite side of the road in order to find oneself in territory controlled by another regional department, which traders did when they saw law enforcement officers.
The history of the creation of the book market "Paradise" in Kharkov
For a long time in the city, the book trade was spontaneous. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, state-owned shops selling literature did not work, and spontaneous trade did not develop properly. Just at that time in the Shevchenko Garden, near Cascade, a book beam was founded. In addition to prints, it was possible to purchase antique and rare material in the bazaar. However, a couple of years later, in 1998, on Klochkovskaya Street, it was allowed to organize a separate market in which books would be sold.
After the construction of the Paradise Corner office building was completed, the book market (Balka) grew on one of the main streets of the city. In Kharkov, the territory was allocated for a parking lot and permission was obtained to trade book products in the territory of 5 thousand m². However, the modern bazaar occupies a larger area than was originally allocated.
Variety of products
The book market in Kharkov is selling printing and printing products, trade in office supplies, souvenirs, toys, educational games for children, software products, as well as audiovisual goods.
On the territory of the beam you can buy a book of any genre. Kharkov book market is replete with a wide range of reference books, calendars, magazines, educational, scientific, children's and methodological literature at prices much lower than in the store. On the eve of the New Year holidays on the shelves of the market is the sale of Christmas toys and other related Christmas products. Market products can be purchased both wholesale and retail, depending on the wishes and needs of the buyer.
The opening hours of the book market in Kharkov are from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday is a day off for everyone, but there are some market workers who come out that day, however, there are not many of them. There is a market near the station "Historical Museum". It is a heterogeneous formation, as it has a “flea section” in which old books and things are sold, as well as stalls with new products.
Present
Over the many years of work, the book market in Kharkov has fallen into disrepair. However, this problem was dealt with by installing a new fence and laying new asphalt across the territory. About 5-6 years ago, a fence was painted along the road, and new pipes were laid. Currently, the book beam includes a book bazaar, a restaurant, a CD-ROM store, and the Stolitsa trade and exhibition book center under construction. Project managers intend to place here not only retail venues, but also halls for exhibitions, presentations, fairs and festivals.
The Paradise Corner concern, together with the executive committee of the Kharkiv City Council, organizes an annual festival called The World of the Book, whose winners are awarded the main prize - the Golden Phoenix figurine. The exhibition-fair unites professionals in the field of book publishers and book distributors of Ukraine, as well as foreign countries. The World of the Book festival takes place in the building of the Kharkov Opera House named after N. Lysenko.