In Brief .. .

FOR avid readers, the annual book fair startstoday with more than 300 publishers and 60exhibitors represented at the Old Aduana buildingin San José.The fair, which runs through July 4, featuresthousands of books (mostly in Spanish) will beavailable to browse.It is also a chance to get acquainted withLatin American writers and meet Costa Ricanauthors. Costa Rica’s leading bookstores, suchas Lehman’s, Max and Librería Internacionalplus publishing houses will have displays anddiscount prices.July 2 will be dedicated to Chilean poet andwinner of the 1971 Nobel prize for literature,Pablo Neruda, for the 100th anniversary of hisbirth. Look for books on his poetry and his life.Each year the fair celebrates the literature ofa different country and this year the honor goesto Colombia. The Colombian Embassy is planningcultural events and visits by popularauthors. For young readers, there will be displaysof children’s books and Cuenta Cuentoprograms of story telling.Doors open at 10 a.m. and close at 9 p.m.Entrance is ¢600 for adults, ¢300 for childrenover 12 and free for younger children and adultsover 65. The Old Aduana building is located onAv. 5, Ca. 23. For more info, call 221-2154.