500 Cultural and Literary Programs to be Held During Hormozgan Book Week

According to the reporter of Iran Book News Agency (IBNA) in Bandar Abbas, Anoushirvan Pishdar, on Wednesday morning, in a meeting to commemorate Book, Reading, and Librarian Day at the Thought Library meeting hall of Ayatollah Khamenei in Bandar Abbas, referred to the holding of 500 cultural and literary programs in 73 libraries of the province. While explaining the provincial programs for Book Week, he presented key topics such as commemorating Librarian Day, the province’s public libraries, introducing new plans in the field of study, and elaborating on the details of holding the national “Hamkhaan” award.

The Secretary of the Public Libraries Association of Hormozgan Province continued: We started Book Week from November 9th (19th of Aban), considering the importance of Hormoz Island, with the aim of expanding the culture of reading in this sector, through several programs.

He emphasized the importance of reading, stating: Re-imagining the traditional role of libraries, redesigning the physical space of libraries, digitizing libraries step-by-step in line with the general policy of the institution, playing a role in reading with a focus on strengthening attention to children and teenagers, the role of reading in public culture, expanding libraries, increasing the number of books, providing easy public access to books, addressing the shortage of books with the capacity of public libraries, the issue of social justice and focusing on rural communities, and launching mobile libraries are among our priorities.

Pishdar added: In Hormozgan, we have 874,076 books in 73 public libraries covering an area of 30,563 square meters. During Book, Reading, and Librarian Week, with the help of benefactors, the Noor Library of Garook Sirik city in the east of the province, with 210 square meters of infrastructure, and the Sohrevardi Library of Kemshk Bastak village in western Hormozgan, with 350 square meters, will be inaugurated, bringing the total number to 75 libraries.

He also stated: In addition to these 75 libraries, we have 19 participatory libraries with 49,752 books. 17 libraries are in cities and 2 are in rural areas. Among institutional libraries, 44 are in urban areas and 28 in rural areas.

The Director-General of Hormozgan Public Libraries thanked the headquarters staff and Hormozgan librarians, stating: In total, 150 people work in Hormozgan’s public libraries, serving in the general administration headquarters, counties, and public libraries.

Regarding flagship projects, Pishdar said: Bandar Abbas Central Library, with 7,000 square meters of infrastructure, is one of our flagship projects that will open next year. Hashtbandi Central Library is another project. Also, the Bandar Abbas City Park Library, replacing the Martyrs’ Library, will be built by the end of the year in two floors and 800 square meters, with the efforts of the Bandar Abbas Municipality.

He emphasized: The half-percent of municipalities’ contributions is currently being paid, but this year’s payment is based on last year’s municipal revenue, and 100% of it will be paid next year.

Pishdar stated: The weakest library infrastructures in Hormozgan province belong to Bandar Abbas city, because this metropolis has a total of 15 libraries, 6 of which are in the city center and the rest are on the outskirts. 20 cities and 34 villages with a population of over 2,500 people also lack public libraries, meaning we have a shortage of about 60 public libraries in Hormozgan, which we must bring to zero.

He announced the attention of the Hormozgan Governor in following up on the completion of the physical space of the Bandar Abbas Central Library and added: The construction of the Bandar Abbas Central Library began in 2008 on a seven-thousand-square-meter land, consisting of five floors and sections for children, Hormozgan studies, book society collection, visually and hearing impaired, researchers, childcare, study halls, etc., in Khalij Fars Park (Bandar Abbas Forest Park).

Pishdar also explained the Book Week programs, stating: This week, from November 14th to 20th (24th to 30th of Aban), 500 cultural and literary programs will be held in 73 libraries, including literary gatherings, commemoration of the late Mansour Zamirinejad, a veteran Hormozgani poet, rural and urban knowledge caravans during Book Week, signing a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Labor and Social Affairs, the Director-General’s speech at Friday prayers, a book-reading family workshop, a visit by the head of the Public Culture Council to Bandar Abbas public libraries, a meeting of veteran writers, and the opening of two study pensions (private study halls).

He also added: The national “Hamkhaan; Iran Public Libraries Mark” award is held with the aim of identifying and appreciating successful models of library services and improving the quality of promotional and reading activities throughout the country.

Pishdar also said: Given the new measures by the country’s public libraries institution, the expansion of mobile libraries is on the agenda, and if 6 mobile libraries are launched and each library covers 10 service points, 60 areas lacking libraries will be covered by these libraries.