The money allows AlMaaytah to renovate his small, cramped space and expand to an adjacent storefront where he hopes to set up a literary salon, a display of rare books and a reading corner. AlMaaytah recently renamed his branch "Mahall al-Maa," loosely translated as "Source of Water," to reflect his belief that books — like water — are a necessity and should be accessible to all. [...] access has been a problem in Jordan, which lacks government-funded community libraries, forcing readers to buy expensive books or go to university libraries, said Sara Qudah, the culture editor of the Al-Rai newspaper. Running a bookstore seems to be an anachronistic endeavor in an increasingly digital world, where social media and satellite TV are dominating leisure time at the expense of reading books. [...] the Arabs wanted to change their societies, and books of literature, philosophy and politics were one of the ways to create change. "The same way some books are capable of inspiring readers and spreading love, these books can divide people and turn them into criminals," said AlMaaytah, who occasionally slips from colloquial into formal Arabic and likes to quote from books, even in casual conversation. Customers sip on sage tea, read poetry, debate, and sing and play instruments for hours, often on the sidewalk out front.