1100 Programs by Fars Libraries for the Kind Friend (Book Week)

According to the reporter of Iran’s Book News Agency (IBNA) in Shiraz, Mohammad Hossein Firoozi, Director General of Public Libraries of Fars Province, on Tuesday morning in a press conference hosted at the historic Nasir al-Nizam Mansion, elaborated on the one-year performance of the General Directorate and announced planned programs for the 33rd Islamic Republic Book Week in the province.

In response to a question from the IBNA reporter in Shiraz about whether the Fars Book Fair would finally be held after a long hiatus, he said: ‘The outcome of the last meeting of the exhibition organizing committee, held at the Fars Governorate, is that the exhibition will not be held in Aban (October-November) and all parties are trying to hold it in Dey (December-January).’

Firoozi announced that with the start of Book Week from November 15th, Fars Province’s public libraries will welcome this event with approximately 1100 programs across 276 libraries. According to the Director General of Fars Public Libraries, this province has the most infrastructure in the country, and during Book Week, the focus is on book-oriented programs.

He noted that simultaneously with the country’s Public Libraries Institution, which will unveil 12 compatible badges on November 15th, the aforementioned week will begin with the celebration of the Day of Commemoration for Books, Librarians, and Reading. Corresponding to this event, a ceremony to commemorate this day will be held in Fars Province on November 19th.

Firoozi announced that this event coincides with the unveiling of three books praised by the Supreme Leader. He said: ‘Of these three titles, the book ‘Khanoum Mah’ is based on the memoirs of the martyr ‘Shirali Soltani’s’ wife, and it is the second work to be praised by Ayatollah Khamenei. The mentioned book has had less than 15 print runs so far.’

11 Public Libraries Added to Fars in One Year

Emphasizing that Book Week is a manifestation of public libraries’ one-year activities, he elaborated on the institution’s performance and announced: ‘In the past three years, we have opened 31 public libraries, and in the past year, since Aban 1403 (October-November 2024), eleven libraries have been added to the total.’

The Director General of Fars Public Libraries, announcing that a new generation of public libraries has been added to Fars Province in the past two years in cooperation with municipalities, recalled: ‘The new generation of library services began with the renovation and modernization of the Martyr Ayatollah Dastgheib Library in Shiraz, and from a scientific and promotional perspective, it can be considered a transformation in these spaces.’

According to him, today nearly 10,000 people are members of the Martyr Dastgheib Library, which means there is a need for public library services.

56% Increase in Public Library Infrastructure

Firoozi continued by announcing that in the past year, 56% has been added to the infrastructure of public libraries in Fars Province, and reported on the distribution and inclusion of justice in the province and encouragement to continue this path.

He noted that in the last 10 years, a new generation of libraries has been formed based on user needs, and stated: ‘The first library with artificial intelligence technology will be opened in District 11, with an area of 1600 square meters, on Fal Asiri Street.’

Firoozi also announced the implementation of ‘object lending’ in public libraries as part of new library services, adding: ‘This is a new model in public libraries worldwide that creates access to facilities and needs in this sector and is provided free of charge to the public.’

Complaint Regarding the Removal of School Librarians in the 2010s

The Director General of Fars Public Libraries identified one of the province’s weaknesses in the field of books as being related to education, stating: ‘Unfortunately, one of the poor decisions in recent years has been the removal of librarians from school libraries, which has reduced our connection with this sector. The absence of librarians in school libraries was initiated in 2014.’

3,000 Foreign Nationals Benefit from Fars Public Libraries

He announced that services are provided to over 3,000 foreign nationals in Fars Province’s public libraries, and said: ‘With the help of benefactors, including the Book Vow Festival, we are trying to address resource shortages. However, we have seen a 12% growth in resources, though this statistic is not sufficient, and we plan purchases for this purpose until the second half of the year.’

According to Firoozi, Fars is among the well-off provinces, but the income sources for libraries are half a percent of municipal revenues, contributions from benefactors, and government budgets. Therefore, despite shortages, our colleagues are patiently providing services with minimal wages, but we need more attention from the government and agencies. Municipalities are obliged to deposit half a percent of their income to the account of the Public Libraries Association by the 15th of each month. We have 126 cities, and 121 associations in Fars. The amount deposited is very small.

The Director General of Fars Public Libraries reported a 53% growth in asset acquisition credits for the current year, stating: ‘We have 35 active large projects across the province, and twelve percent of the country’s public libraries institution projects are in Fars.’

7 Fars Counties Lack Public Libraries

He also named areas in Fars Province without public libraries and said: ‘We are currently building libraries in these areas, and for other places that do not have public libraries, government-owned spaces will be made available for libraries.’

Firoozi identified Dehkuyeh and Banaruyeh in Kharameh County, Kamfiruz and Faroogh, Rostaq, Fadami and Tasuj and Mozaffari Koreh and Bidshahr, Qatruyeh and Mashkan, Kupon Khumeh Zarr and Homashahr as areas without public libraries.

Over 65 Book Unveilings

Finally, the Director General of Fars Public Libraries announced the unveiling of 65 books for the 33rd Book Week in Fars Province and named a selection of Book Week programs, saying: ‘Book practice in Shiraz with the help of the Calligraphers Association, ringing the reader’s bell in cooperation with the Fars Department of Education in schools, the Librarians’ Grand Family Celebration on Thursday in Shiraz, and the unveiling of the Fars Book Radio podcast are among these programs.’