LOCAL bookseller Rupert Hopkinson has invested $40M in the establishment of Bookland, a new facility which replaces the popular Georgetown Reading and Research Centre (GRRC) that was set up since 1997.

Bookland is located at Woolford Avenue and Albert Street and Hopkinson disclosed yesterday that the objective of the multi-million dollar entity is to serve as an income stream to support its mission of “Getting Books in every Household”.

Bookland is located on a 38,000 square foot holding, about 500 meters from the National Park in Thomas Lands and is built one foot higher than the nearby avenue to escape flooding.

The entity boasts a beautiful garden environment with gazebos, walkways and lawns to compliment the library and bookstore.

Bookland will be formally opened on August 1, with a grand inaugural fun day.

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Hopkinson said that every valid ticket holder to the fun day, up to 15:00hrs on that day will receive a book free of charge.

Additionally, every valid ticket holder will receive a full refund on their ticket if they purchase books from Bookland beyond the cost of the ticket.

Hopkinson said that he is hoping that Bookland can become an “organisation of organisations”, granting membership to individuals and clubs so they can make gainful use of the facility all year-round.

He also said that Bookland is available to partner with similar minded organisations in their efforts to raise funds to support their work.

Bookland’s predecessor, the GRRC, was established by Hopkinson in 1997 to offer library services to students pursuing post-secondary education.

Hopkinson said that while the GRRC’s focus remains, the new Bookland is moving into additional streams which can contribute to its aim of increasing literacy in Guyana.