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n a change from the previous model of the Jakarta Book Fair, Jakbook & Edu Fair 2015 is designed to offer more than just books at this year'€™s event. The event will welcome, for the first time, Jakarta Smart Card (KJP) holders to shop for their school necessities.

Set to be held from July 27 to August 3, the 25th book fair, hosted by the Jakarta chapter of the Association of Indonesian Publishers (IKAPI), will take place in air-conditioned tents set up at Plaza Parkir Timur of Gelora Bung Karno sports complex in Senayan, Central Jakarta.

Previously, the event was held at the Istora Indoor Stadium, also in Senayan.

'€œIn its 25th year, Jakbook will welcome KJP holders for the first time,'€ the event'€™s chairman Tatang Sudensyah said during his visit to The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

During the event, KJP holders can buy books as well as other needs such as school uniforms, bags and stationary sets at a maximum value of Rp 500,000 (US$37) by swiping their cards, which are in the form of city-owned Bank DKI'€™s ATMs.

They will also receive some benefits, such as special discounts from the sellers and a free ride on Transjakarta buses to reach the location of the book fair.

Tatang went on to say that giving access to smart card holders, numbering up to 490,150 people, was a result of cooperation with the Jakarta administration, which aimed to ensure that the fund was used appropriately by students.

The smart card, part of a collaboration with city-owned lender Bank DKI, is among the programs initiated by then Jakarta governor Joko '€œJokowi'€ Widodo in 2012 to help elementary and high school students fulfill their school-related needs, such as covering book and transportation fees.

This year, the Education Agency introduced a non-cash payment system via Bank DKI'€™s ATMs to replace the previous cash withdrawal system for smart card recipients, which was prone to misuse. The fund will be disbursed every semester, with withdrawal amounts at ATMs being limited every week to Rp 50,000 and the remainder accessed through a non-cash payment system.

With the non-cash payment mechanism, Tatang said that the government would have the ability to control the use of the funding.

'€œThe old way [of withdrawing all fund in cash] allowed card holders to use the money for non-educational spending like buying cell phones,'€ he said.

With the participation of 246 book and non-book sellers, the event is expected to pamper not only KJP holders, but also book lovers. Last year, the fair hosted 115 booths and 168 participants, and attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors.

This year, participating book publishers are, among others, Mizan Pustaka, Gramedia Pustaka, Yayasan Obor Indonesia, Gagas Media Group, Erlangga and Tiga Serangkai.

Participating non-book sellers include pencil maker Steadler, store-stationary retailer Gunung Agung, uniform producer Al Barkah, footwear retailer Air Walk and bag retailer Pro Sport.

Opening the event on the first day of school after the Idul Fitri holiday, the organizers said that the delayed starting date was a result of a technical glitch related to the disbursement of the funds from the government. Initially, the organizers planned to hold the book fair in May.

To attract visitors, the organizers will also host talk shows and host festival-style entertainment, such as a performance by boy band CJR as well as singers Fatin and Andien. Other events include a meeting with the filmmakers of Catatan Akhir Kuliah (Notes at the End of College), and a music show by multitalented artist Pidi Baiq.