Holding 30 Diverse Programs to Promote Reading Culture in Mazandaran

According to Khabaronline from Mazandaran, Mohammad Mohammadi announced the implementation of more than 30 diverse programs across the province to mark the 33rd Book Week, stating that the main goal of these programs is to promote reading culture, support authors and publishers, and expand public participation in the field of books and reading.

Mohammad Mohammadi added: To this end, correspondence has been made with the Governorate for holding a meeting of the Book Week staff, and it is planned that district governors will form district committees under their chairmanship, with the secretarial duties handled by the Departments of Culture and Islamic Guidance, and activity reports will be continuously sent to the staff secretariat. Consultations have been held with the General Department of Tax Affairs of the province to benefit booksellers from tax exemptions in support of the publishing sector.

He referred to the official opening of Book Week in Behshahr, the provincial book capital, and said: A special press conference for this event will also be held with media representatives. Coordination has also been made with domestic news agencies to cover the programs of this year’s Book Week.

The Director General of Culture and Islamic Guidance of Mazandaran mentioned book unveiling, criticism, and review programs and continued: This week, five books authored in 1404 will be unveiled, and book review sessions with poets and writers are planned. Also, new books from the province will be introduced through the poetry and literature association channels of the General Departments of Culture and Islamic Guidance across the province. In this regard, coordination has been made with all departments for employees with publications to introduce books during prayers, and employees with publications will be introduced to the Book Week secretariat for appreciation.

Mohammadi announced the establishment of book exhibitions across the province in cooperation with cultural institutions, publishers, and booksellers, adding: A grand conference to honor activists in the field of books and publishing will be held with the presence of prominent authors, researchers, librarians, and publishers of the province. Furthermore, publishing workshops including editing, InDesign, and Photoshop are planned for enthusiasts in this field. Cultural activists are also invited to present ideas for promoting reading culture.

The Director General of Culture and Islamic Guidance of Mazandaran Province referred to holding specialized meetings on Mazandaran language and culture and said: Producing an educational film about the process of book preparation to familiarize children with the value of books and paper, implementing the “Pik-e Omid” (Messenger of Hope) jihadi camp project in deprived and rural areas, and organizing book reading programs for children and teenagers by Avanameh Cultural and Artistic Institute (audiobook) are among other important activities this week.

Mohammadi continued: Mazandaran TV and Radio Center will also provide extensive coverage of the events and introduce new provincial publications with authors and publishers. In addition, advertising billboards and urban spaces will be used to introduce prominent authors and new provincial works, and installing posters and designing short sentences on the topic of books and reading in crowded urban centers is on the agenda.

The Director General of Culture and Islamic Guidance of Mazandaran Province added: Organizing book-centric and creative programs in cooperation with urban and rural mosque cultural-artistic centers, reading campaigns with painting competitions for children, performing ancient Mazandaran tales in Tabari language for enthusiasts, especially children and teenagers, educational sessions on local poetry and short stories, and the “Kind Friend” book donation project to underprivileged schools, welfare centers, orphaned children, seminaries, prisons, and detention centers are among other measures this week.

Mohammadi added: Through these programs, publishers and authors in the field of Sacred Defense and children’s and young adult literature will be honored, and a plan to name urban streets after authors and prominent book covers is on the agenda. Furthermore, the “My Library” project will be implemented in provincial schools with the aim of exchanging books among students.

He noted: By leveraging public capacities and the cooperation of all agencies, we strive to make this year’s Book Week a widespread movement to expand reading culture among families. Also, holding multiple book-centric festivals, including the Children and Young Adults Book Reading Clubs Cup, Book-Loving Villages and Nomads, and Iran’s Book Capital, will be among the province’s other prominent programs on this occasion.

The 33rd Book Week of the Islamic Republic of Iran, with the slogan “Read for Iran,” will be held from November 14 to 20, 2025.