Over 1700 Braille books exist in Ardabil libraries

According to Iran Book News Agency (IBNA) in Ardabil, Parvaneh Reza Gholizadeh stated on Tuesday at a press conference with Ardabil media on the occasion of Book Week: Braille books have been placed on special shelves in the central libraries of Ardabil, Sa’duddin Varavini in Meshgin Shahr county, and Shahid Rajaei in Parsabad county for the use of the blind.

She stated, commemorating October 15th (Mehr 23rd), equivalent to White Cane Safety Day and the social dignity of the blind: 10,000 audio versions of various books have been produced for this segment of society with the participation of the Department of Libraries and those interested in reading books, in standard sound recording rooms.

Reza Gholizadeh added: The central library of Ardabil province is ready to convert any suggested books by visually impaired individuals into audio. Additionally, local authors and writers can provide their works to the provincial central library for audio production, or even record their own books in a dedicated room.

The Director-General of Libraries of Ardabil province announced the operation of 49 urban libraries, 19 rural libraries, and 14 participatory libraries across the province, stating: Two library service counters are also active in the ‘Zir Nahre Torab’ area of Parsabad county and ‘Vargahsaran’ village of Sareyn, and a mobile library in Bileh Savar county provides services to villages and nomadic settlements.

Reza Gholizadeh announced the existence of over one million books across the province, adding: For every person in the province’s population, there is one book in public libraries, and over 5% of the literate population of the province are members of public libraries. Additionally, for every 100 people in the entire province, there is approximately 5.2 square meters of library space.

Ardabil Has an Average Reading Rate

This official, referring to the importance of promoting reading culture in society, stated: The exact statistics for the per capita reading rate in Ardabil province are not clear, as this work should be measured standardly by the National Statistics Center, universities, and research institutes. Generally, and based on the statistics we have received, Ardabil may be in the middle ranks. In other words, perhaps we are not avid readers, but we are not non-readers either, and this belief and perspective should be corrected.

Reza Gholizadeh stated that public libraries are not responsible for all matters related to books and reading in the country, and many areas related to books, including publishing, distribution, buying and selling, obtaining licenses, paper quotas, reading incentives, subsidy allocation, holding exhibitions, etc., fall within the responsibilities of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance.

6 New Book Titles to be Unveiled in Ardabil

She continued: The Libraries Institution operates solely in promoting reading and strives to encourage people of all ages, education levels, and intellectual orientations towards ‘reading’ by developing facilities and services and holding various cultural programs.

The Director-General of Libraries of Ardabil province announced the holding of various literary and cultural programs focused on books during Book Week, stating: Introducing and honoring top readers and librarians, unveiling the Supreme Leader’s commentary on three books ‘Unfinished Fever’, ‘Traveler of Fire and Snow’, and ‘Lady Moon’, meetings and discussions with authors, publishers, poets, and booksellers of the province, holding ‘Book Bell’ in schools, poetry and literature circles (including in Kalk-e Khial and Hakim Molla Mohammad Fozooli associations), holding a specialized ‘Book and Philosophy’ session, and reopening the children’s section of Shahid Motahari Library are among the programs for this year’s Book Week celebration.

Reza Gholizadeh continued: During Book Week, six newly published books by local authors of the province, titled ‘For My Daughter Anil’, ‘My Homeland Khan’, ‘How Shoorabil Came into Being’, ‘The Starry Wish of a Frog’, ‘The Role of Reason and Thought in Students’ Moral Education’, and ‘The Importance of Children’s Susceptibility to Media’ will be unveiled by the General Directorate of Libraries of the province.