Mutanabbi Street, a winding street filled with bookstores and book stalls, is the historic center of Baghdad bookselling. It is the present heart of one of the world’s oldest and most distinguished literary and intellectual communities. On March 5 a car bomb was exploded there, killing more than thirty people.

In support of the Baghdad literary community, a reading will be held at the main branch of the San Francisco Public Library in August. Readings are by invitation, but to contribute or volunteer, please write to Beau Beausoleil of Overland Books (overlandbooks [at] earthlink [dot] net).