Manolo Patrocinio refutes lack of reading habits in the Dominican Republic during the 2026 Book Fair
The owner of Libro Reliquias, Manolo Patrocinio, has raised his voice to counter the popular belief that there is a widespread lack of interest in reading in the Dominican Republic. Within the framework of the 2026 International Book Fair, the bookseller stated that a significant portion of the population, with youth playing a leading role, maintains a close and constant bond with literary texts.
During her participation in the second day of the cultural event, Patrocinio gave an optimistic assessment of the visitor turnout. Although she described the initial commercial activity as fair, she remained confident that the flow of people and sales will pick up as the days of the fair progress.
A wonderful experience, because this is our world, the world of culture, the world of education, the world of books.
Manolo Patrocinio, owner of Libro Reliquias
The role of young people in literary culture
To support her position, Patrocinio shared her direct experience with her community of readers. As she explained, the bookstore has managed to consolidate an active network that includes more than 250 people, among whom are students and young people interested in expanding their personal libraries or private collections.
The bookseller highlighted the following points regarding the current reading landscape:
- There is a significant presence of young people on social media who actively consume genres such as classical literature and contemporary novels.
- The community of readers in the country is broader than negative perceptions suggest.
- Direct contact at book fairs and literary spaces demonstrates a genuine interest in knowledge and reading.
It is not true that Dominicans do not read; some do not read.
Manolo Patrocinio
With a positive attitude, the businessman emphasized that he maintains faith and hope that the closing of the 2026 International Book Fair will leave a positive balance, consolidating sales spaces and reaffirming the country’s commitment to the reading habit.
