Great Sepehr Ketab Event and Implementation of Over 50 Cultural and Literary Programs in Razavi Khorasan

According to the Iran Book News Agency (IBNA), Hossein Mesgarani announced the implementation of over 50 cultural and literary programs during Book Week, stating: The provincial Book Week headquarters, chaired by the governor, began its work in early October and intends to organize this period of Book Week with greater splendor, adopting an approach of synergy among executive bodies, NGOs, and the people themselves.

He added, stating that the ‘Sepehr Ketab’ event is at the forefront of this headquarters’ programs: In this event, we plan to identify and honor individuals, organizations, groups, and anyone who has had continuous, innovative, and creative activity in the field of books and reading. More than 30 tribute categories are envisioned in this event’s plan, including the book-reading soldier, book-reading prisoner, book-reading parent, book-reading groups or book promoters, and valuable book bloggers, who are given special attention in this plan. For example, in the category of promoting groups, a bakery and a real estate consultant have been identified who spontaneously designed book shelves in their workplaces for customers. These creative categories are in addition to activists in the book production, supply, and distribution chain, such as writers, illustrators, publishers, printing houses, bookstores, librarians, etc.

The Secretary of the Razavi Khorasan Book Week Headquarters added: In addition to the tribute categories, in the Sepehr Ketab event, we have paid special attention to book-themed arts to encourage and persuade artists from various fields to produce art in the domain of books, and to witness the creation of plays, anthems, poetry, short films, documentaries, feature films, etc., about books.

Mesgarani also referred to the side section of this event and said: The launch and unveiling of the poster for book activities and events such as the Book Reading Clubs Cup, storytelling workshops, selection of the Provincial Book of the Year, etc., will take place at Sepehr Ketab. Holding decentralized book exhibitions in mosques, schools, and cities, literary gatherings, public campaigns, and specialized workshops in Mashhad and other cities are among the other programs of the Razavi Khorasan Book Week headquarters in the 33rd event. Also, book exhibitions with special discounts will be held in 10 cities and over 30 urban and rural schools and mosques.

The Director General of Culture and Islamic Guidance of Razavi Khorasan continued: The holding of the third cultural event ‘Mashhad, City of Book Readers,’ the commencement of activities for 170 reading circles in Mashhad and over 300 circles in other cities, the implementation of reading competitions specifically for teenagers and children, and the circulation of 13 mobile libraries offering cultural, social, medical, and other services in target areas are also among the prominent programs of this cultural week.

Mesgarani also mentioned other programs: In the cultural and artistic domain, ‘Table and Book’ and ‘Good Deed Gift’ campaigns for donating books to underprivileged areas, holding a session to introduce, review, and criticize the book ‘Grandpa’s Mischief,’ urban screening and introduction of selected books, creation of clips and photos on the theme of books for broadcast on the provincial network, broadcasting book introduction motion graphics in cinemas, holding the ‘Book Film’ event, and delivering books to citizens and library members by students on bicycles are planned.

The Director General of Culture and Islamic Guidance of Razavi Khorasan province stated that the programs for this period of Book Week are not limited to introducing printed books, adding: Numerous specialized workshops will also be held on various topics, including editing and correct writing, book production, children’s and young adult storytelling, illustration, methods of developing reading habits, principles of media literacy, reading aloud for teenagers, children’s storytelling and poetry reading, an introduction to children’s and young adult literature, re-illustrating rarely-read valuable books, book introduction and consultation, presenting one hundred models for book supply to facilitate access, and the capacity of book clubs in promoting reading. Additionally, workshops on innovation in publishing, the process of book production and publication, and strategies for increasing efficiency in reading are planned.

He also referred to the programs organized for meetings and visits during the 33rd Book Week of the Islamic Republic of Iran, continuing: Meetings with writers and literary figures, visits to Mashhad bookstores and honoring their cultural activities, visits to selected village projects from previous Book Lover Festival periods, visits by the governor and head of the Book Week headquarters to successful projects, honoring rural libraries and book philanthropists, a book celebration, and appreciation of reading mentors and promoters will be held.

The Director General of Culture and Islamic Guidance of Razavi Khorasan province also listed socio-cultural activities as follows: Distributing books among police soldiers, donating books to pilgrim children on trains heading to Mashhad, donating books to reading stations, circulating school and mosque libraries for renovation, free membership in Astan Quds libraries and Mashhad Central Library, and a special library tour program for children with disabilities at the Central Library are among other measures during this Book Week period.

Hossein Mesgarani concluded: Urban campaigns such as introducing book promoters and scannable barcodes for e-reader applications in city trains and buses, book promoter meetings, book cafe meetings, screening plays on book themes, interactive book games (reality games), and the unveiling of the special Book Week poster will also be held. I hope that with the widespread implementation of these programs and the participation of cultural and public institutions, the culture of reading and book-reading will become further institutionalized in society.

The 33rd Book Week of the Islamic Republic of Iran, with the slogan ‘Let’s Read for Iran,’ will be held from the twenty-fourth to the thirtieth of Aban (1404) [November 15-21, 2025].