The Excitement of Books in the Land of Zagros / Books, the Permanent Guests of Kermanshah Families

The provincial services of the Iran Book News Agency (IBNA): After a seven-year hiatus, the Zagros hall has once again taken on the atmosphere of a serious cultural event. From the very first minutes of the morning on the opening day of the exhibition, the steady flow of people at the hall’s entrance indicated that the first day would not be quiet and empty. Families, students, and various groups interested in books continuously entered the premises, and the exhibition, which had been absent from the province’s cultural calendar for years, began this time with new enthusiasm and expectation.

The concentrated arrangement of the booths made the exhibition space resemble a cultural hypermarket; shopping baskets moved in the hands of visitors, and short stops were seen in each row for flipping through books. This calm and orderly movement gave the exhibition a kind of rhythm; it was as if people had come not just to buy, but to review the forgotten habit of seeing books again; the sound of inquiries from guides and short conversations among visitors kept the exhibition lively and dynamic.

Among all sections, the children’s and young adult booth was busier from the early hours of the day. Parents stood by the shelves, selecting books with greater care, and this calm crowd vividly portrayed families’ attention to reading among the younger generation. The enthusiastic public reception on the first day has turned the re-opening of the Kermanshah Book Fair into a serious and hopeful event.

Following the first day of the exhibition, we went to Abbas Gholami, the executive director of the exhibition, to review the executive process and behind-the-scenes organization of this event; he managed the workflow and coordination among publishers, staff, and visitors from the first hour of the morning until the end of the day.

50% of Book Fair Sales are Dedicated to Children / Offering New Publications at the Kermanshah Book Fair

Abbas Gholami, the executive director of the 15th Kermanshah Book Fair, spoke about the features and progress of this event: In the 15th National Kermanshah Book Fair, 320 publishers and agencies have participated, and approximately 13,000 book titles are on sale. Books are offered in two sections: general and children/young adults. In the general hall, works related to Iranian and foreign novels, literature, poetry, psychology, religion and teachings, biographies of martyrs and sacred defense, homemaking, history and philosophy, politics, and rare books are presented, and a separate hall is dedicated to the children’s and young adult section.

Gholami, referring to the visitors’ reception on the first day, added: Despite the simultaneous holding of the Derby and football matches, we expected less attendance, but the public reception was good, and we hope this trend continues until the end of the exhibition on December 11th (20 Azar). People of Kermanshah have once again had the opportunity to visit a large book fair after seven years.

Regarding the participating publishers, he explained: In this edition, the latest published works from the country’s most reputable publishers, including Ney Publishing, Cheshmeh, Gatreh, Markaz, Niloofar, Negah, Nasl-e Novandish, Mirkan, and Kooleh Poshti in the novel genre; as well as prominent children’s publishers like Kopa, Ghadyani, Porteqal, Peydayesh, Mohajer, and other leading publishers are present. In total, approximately 320 publishers have participated in this event.

Gholami also mentioned some new publications: For example, Mat Publishing has presented a collection of the latest children’s and young adult manga, and in the novel section, new titles such as ‘Complex Love’ and ‘Complex Game’ have been offered, and other publishers have also brought new works, which cannot all be named here.

He added regarding the taste of book fair visitors in the country: In most exhibitions held, about 50% of sales are related to the children’s and young adult section, and after that, the literature section, including Iranian novels, foreign novels, poetry, and stories, receives the most attention.

Gholami continued about the impact of economic conditions on book purchases: Undoubtedly, economic conditions affect book purchases, but our experience has shown that the timing of the exhibition is also important. Exhibitions held at the beginning of the month usually receive more reception, but this year, even though the exhibition was held in the middle of the month, the conditions have been good. On the other hand, books have not experienced severe price increases compared to many other goods, which is why prices have remained more reasonable.

He added: I always give this example: if you want to buy a gift for a birthday celebration, you cannot get a suitable item for 400 or 500 thousand Tomans, but with the same amount, you can give two or three good books as gifts; therefore, when quality books are offered, people still welcome them.

Holding Book Review Sessions at the Fifteenth Exhibition

Mozaffar Teimouri, the Director-General of Culture and Islamic Guidance of Kermanshah Province, referred to the presence of publishers at the exhibition: Approximately 320 publishers from across the country and 30 Kermanshah publishers, along with booksellers, have participated in the exhibition, and we tried to provide a suitable space for provincial publishers, and we are now at the service of all publishers.

Teimouri explained about the initial issues with the booths: Some publishers announced their readiness late, but with coordination, a space was allocated for them, and we hope that in future editions, the exhibition will be held in a larger and better space.

The Director-General of Guidance, referring to the public presence and their enthusiasm, added: The excellent reception by Kermanshah citizens shows their interest in books and reading; one of the main goals of exhibitions is for people to connect closely with books.

Regarding the side programs of the exhibition, he said: Side programs will begin on Saturday, which include book unveilings and reviews, signing ceremonies, poetry readings, and artistic performances, and roundtables for book analysis will also be held.

Teimouri explained about Kermanshah as a book-friendly city: Our slogan is that Kermanshah is a book-friendly city, and this title is determined based on the programs of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance and indicators such as the number of libraries, cultural associations, and book production, and Kermanshah has high potential to achieve the title of Book Capital.

He added: Similar programs are also held for the province’s cities within the framework of the ‘Shamim Khedmat’ (Scent of Service) plan to achieve cultural justice and ensure all cities and villages benefit from cultural activities.

Teimouri concluded by emphasizing: We hope this exhibition and cultural programs will lead to the growth and promotion of culture and art in Kermanshah province, and we will witness the development of reading and cultural activities throughout the province day by day.