Isfahan Hosts 33rd Book Week with Over 1400 Cultural and Promotional Programs
According to the correspondent of the Iran Book News Agency (IBNA) in Isfahan, Seyyed Mahdi Seyyedinnia, Director General of Culture and Islamic Guidance of Isfahan province, on Tuesday, the thirty-third period of the Book Week of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Isfahan province, referring to the fundamental position of the author in the book production chain, stated: “The author is the essential pillar and the first link in the process of book formation, and if there is no author, the production and supply of books will also have no meaning or existence.”
He added: “Today, book production in the country faces problems such as inflation and high publication costs, and in recent years, the high price of paper, the reduction of publishing subsidies, and the lack of sufficient support for authors and publishers are considered among the main obstacles to the dynamism of the book and reading movement in the country.”
He clarified: “Despite all these challenges, the efforts of activists in the field of publishing and books in difficult economic conditions are commendable. They, with love and cultural concern, write to promote ideas and offer their works to society, although they also face numerous structural problems in the process of supply and distribution.”
The Director General of Culture and Islamic Guidance of Isfahan province emphasized the weakness of reading culture in today’s society and said: “Unfortunately, the per capita reading rate and public interest in books among various segments of society are low, and libraries and cultural centers must play a more active role in reviving this culture. We must be able to bring books back into people’s daily lives and remove them from a ceremonial and occasional status.”
In another part of his speech, he referred to the position of books in the thought of the Supreme Leader and added: “Two sentences from his statements about books are very eloquent and inspiring; ‘The process of human perfection is achieved through books, and books are the mother of civilizations and their essence.’ Seyyedinnia emphasized: ‘Inspired by this deep perspective, we must believe that books are the mother of civilization and the basis of progress and civilization-building in the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the realization of the new Islamic civilization will not be possible without paying attention to books, reading, and enhancing public culture.”
He noted: “On the eve of Book Week, all cultural institutions and organizations must have greater synergy and cooperation to promote reading culture and strengthen the publishing movement, because the cultural elevation of society passes through books.”
A Fresh and Diverse Approach to Book Week Programs
Mohammad Ali Jafari, Cultural and Media Deputy of the General Directorate of Culture and Islamic Guidance of Isfahan province, while explaining the details of this year’s Book Week programs, stated: “This year, the programs will be held with a new and different approach to provide a fresh and diverse environment for book and reading enthusiasts and to move away from repetitive programs.” He added: “Book Week is one of the most important cultural events in the country, held annually in the provinces with the focus on governors and the cooperation of all cultural institutions.”
Jafari, referring to the widespread participation of various organizations in this event, said: “Education and Training, Isfahan Municipality, universities, cultural and artistic institutions, and book-related organizations are participating in the programs with mutual cooperation, and the cities of the province will also have a strong presence with more up-to-date and diverse programs compared to previous years.”
He added: “A significant part of the programs is dedicated to specialized university activities, and Isfahan University, Islamic Azad University, and other scientific centers participate in holding scientific and research meetings. Also, various programs are held daily in municipal libraries, and a book exhibition will be held alongside it with the presence of Isfahani and national publishers.”
The Cultural and Media Deputy of the General Directorate of Guidance of Isfahan, referring to the details of the exhibition, said: “This exhibition includes four thousand book titles with a 20% discount and will be held in Chaharbagh Abbasi, and efforts have been made to cover all cultural tastes of society, from children and teenagers to adults. A part of the programs is dedicated to areas such as talent discovery for children and teenagers, memory evaluation, film analysis, and book introduction.”
Jafari continued his speech by referring to the numerous scientific and cultural meetings of Book Week and said: “Meetings on topics such as empowering women in reading, the book ‘New Governance in the Media Field,’ film analysis on the disadvantages of perfectionism, introducing Iranian books, and examining the role of Iranians as the oldest documentary writers in the world will be held. Also, various programs will be held in book-friendly cities like Jalalabad and Shahinshahr.”
He emphasized the general policies of the cultural system in designing and implementing programs and said: “Our expectation from the provincial media community is that with accurate and extensive information dissemination, the ground for greater impact of the programs will be provided, because if proper media coverage is not done, its cultural effectiveness will decrease.”
Jafari referred to the role of children’s and youth programs in developing reading culture and stated: “Active cultural institutions in the province in the field of children and youth bear a significant part of the programs’ burden, and children will become familiar with the book production process from writing to printing and distribution, and will participate in writing workshops and traditional Iranian arts.” He also referred to the book subsidy plan and added: “This year, one billion Toman in book subsidies has been allocated to buyers using national ID cards, and about 90 bookstores in Isfahan province are participating in this plan.”
The Cultural and Media Deputy of the General Directorate of Guidance of Isfahan regarding combating unauthorized book prints also said: “Unfortunately, in recent years, we have witnessed an increase in copied and illegal books that are offered under fake names and unrealistic discounts in some exhibitions, and it is necessary to confront them with the cooperation of supervisory and security agencies.”
He finally emphasized: “The situation of bookstores in the province is good, and many of them have turned into dynamic cultural places where, in addition to buying books, it is possible to read, converse, and have breakfast. Book Week programs are designed to promote reading culture, increase per capita reading, and further connect people with books, and accurate media reporting can effectively help spread the reading movement.”
Reading Status and Library Performance
Sajjad Karam, Head of the General Directorate of Public Libraries of Isfahan Province, referring to the reading status and performance of libraries, stated: “In recent years, despite the growth of virtual space and increased consumption of digital content, the amount of written reading in society has decreased, and this decrease is completely evident in people’s behavior and lifestyle. Many families who previously bought storybooks for their children now spend their children’s time in virtual space.”
He referred to the studies of the Research Center of the Islamic Consultative Assembly and added: “The results of the research show that the per capita reading rate in the country has a downward trend, and it is necessary to create conditions for families, especially children, to return to the book space with new policies appropriate to current conditions.”
The Head of the General Directorate of Public Libraries of Isfahan Province continued: “Statistics obtained from the systems of the country’s public libraries show that in Isfahan province, over two million seven hundred thousand books have been borrowed this year, which shows a significant increase compared to last year. Currently, about 690,000 copies of books are available in the children’s section of the province’s public libraries, and since the beginning of the year, over 18,800 books have been donated through various schemes.”
He emphasized the role of families in shaping children’s reading habits and said: “The children’s section of libraries has been strengthened, and activities such as buying educational toys, providing cloth books, and holding participatory games for children are on the agenda to create an attractive link between books and games and to introduce children to books in a happy and creative environment.”
Karam also referred to the status of preservation and protection of manuscripts and valuable resources and stated: “A collection of these works is stored in the form of databases and digital versions, and some of them have been digitized through cooperation with Astan Quds Razavi and some cultural and heritage institutions and made available to researchers.”
While thanking the cooperation of media and activists in the field of books and culture, he emphasized the necessity of continued support for promotional programs and the cooperation of cultural institutions to increase the per capita reading rate and said: “Experience has shown that with creative planning and the cooperation of cultural institutions, a new generation of readers can be trained.”
Public Participation and Creative Library Programs
Amir Holakooi, Deputy for Library Affairs and Cooperation of the General Directorate of Public Libraries of Isfahan Province, explaining the programs and structural challenges in the field of books and reading, stated: “During this year’s Book Week, over 1,400 programs will be held in the public libraries of the province, focusing on public presence and participation.” He added: “Various cultural festivals, including the Autumn Festival of Awareness; ‘Mehr Bidari’ with 2500 cultural programs, are underway, and the ‘Mother Storytellers Festival’ will be held with the aim of training active mothers in storytelling and promoting reading in families.”
He referred to the ‘Voice Vow’ and ‘Book Vow’ festivals and said: “This public initiative has led to the donation of about one million books by the people of Isfahan province in recent years.” Amir Holakooi added: “The grand ‘Seven Books Celebration’ will be held in cooperation with the Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs, and concurrently, a national unveiling of three literary works including ‘Unfinished Fever,’ ‘Wife of Fire and Snow,’ and ‘Our Lady’ will take place.”
The Deputy for Library Affairs and Cooperation of the General Directorate of Public Libraries of Isfahan Province announced the implementation of special programs for different age groups and said: “The ‘Medal Festival’ will be held in Kashan with the participation of 500 teenagers and young children, each of whom has read over 100 book titles in one year. Also, the second period of the ‘Children and Youth Book Celebration’ will be fully implemented by children and teenagers in Najafabad city, and 70 provincial winners will be honored.”
He referred to the management structure of the book sector and the challenges of fragmentation among cultural institutions and stated: “About 130 cultural institutions in the country receive cultural budgets, but none of them has a specific mandate for the issue of books and reading. According to the law approved in 2003, the Public Libraries Institution was established with the aim of eliminating duplication and streamlining the book sector, but various institutions, including education, municipalities, and the Islamic Propaganda Organization, still operate in parallel.”
Holakooi added: “Isfahan province is among the top provinces in the country in indicators such as the number of borrowing members, the number of available books, and the acquisition of resources, and over the past year, more than two million seven hundred thousand books have been borrowed from the province’s public libraries.”
He emphasized the importance of family in promoting reading culture and stated: “The first influential link in reading is the family, and until the space for books in the home and school is strengthened, expecting an increase in the actual reading rate will not be possible. In some schools, non-curricular books are still prohibited for students, whereas the culture of free reading should be strengthened in the educational system.”
The Deputy for Library Affairs and Cooperation of the General Directorate of Public Libraries of Isfahan Province noted: “Despite the limitations, Isfahan holds a prominent national position in reading and library membership, and the effort of the Public Libraries Institution of the province is to provide greater access and interest for people in books through cooperation with cultural institutions.”
