Reading in an Imbalanced State / Minister of Culture Warned

According to the correspondent of Iran Book News Agency (IBNA), on the occasion of the 33rd Book Week of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the ceremony to commemorate the day of ‘Book, Reading and Librarian’ and introduce the winners of the first ‘Hamkhan; Iran Public Library Award’ was held on Saturday, November 14, 2025 (24 Aban 1404) at Vahdat Hall, with the presence of President Masoud Pezeshkian, Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Seyyed Abbas Salehi, and Secretary General of Public Libraries Institution Azadeh Nazarboland.

Seyyed Abbas Salehi, Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, said at the ceremony: Allameh Tabatabai was an exegete, philosopher, and mystic who believed in dialogue and had built a bridge between the West and the East. He initiated both dialogue with the West and Shia studies. We also need dialogue, and if we open this bridge, the future is bright.

He stated: Mr. President, you are the heir to many imbalances, imbalance in the field of energy, insurance funds, retirement, and population; but allow me to place another imbalance on your shoulders, which is the imbalance in the field of study and books. The field of study and books, similar to the field of environment, has deep and lasting effects.

Salehi added: In the first 6 months of the year, 119,000 book titles were published in the field of book production, 5 percent of which were original works.

Targeted management of capacities paves the way for extensive value creation

Nazarboland, Secretary General of the Public Libraries Institution, at this ceremony, explained the concept of ‘value creation’ and ‘production of tangible and intangible benefits’ of public libraries, stating: The Public Libraries Institution of the country has valuable capacities and opportunities that are considered the foundation of the institution and the foundation for cultural and economic value creation; having 4,229 library service points across the country, approximately 2.5 million active members in the public library network, and benefiting from more than 7,500 human resources across the country, are part of these capacities and opportunities.

She added: If these capacities are managed purposefully and intelligently, they will pave the way for extensive and effective tangible and intangible value creation. For this purpose, to identify the subject literature and achieve the best methods, value creation models in 12 countries were first reviewed, and in the first step, five models were selected based on local indicators. Finally, given the nature of the institution, which is a non-governmental public institution, and with special attention to return on investment in cultural activities, among economic models, the Return on Investment (ROI) model, also introduced by the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), was chosen as the final model.

Economic impact of the institution over one year

Nazarboland, explaining this model, said: The value creation of libraries is measured based on indicators of membership, lending, and promotional and educational library events. By calculating these indicators in the current situation, the institution, with 5,000 librarians and 3,600 libraries, has been able to generate 4.3 trillion Tomans of economic impact in one year. The share of the membership indicator in this economic impact was 62 percent, the lending indicator 30 percent and the promotional and educational events indicator 8 percent. In clear terms, in addition to the social and cultural effects resulting from library activities, which are significant and undeniable on their own, the institution has created 4.3 trillion Tomans of economic impact for the country in one year, with an expenditure of 2.2 trillion Tomans.

The Secretary-General of the Public Libraries Institution stated: In this framework, the country’s per capita investment in public libraries for each Iranian is approximately 25,000 Tomans; a figure roughly equivalent to one-tenth the price of a book. In contrast, despite various limitations and challenges, hardworking, motivated, and concerned librarians have been able to create an economic impact of approximately 50,000 Tomans per Iranian annually. Thus, the Public Libraries Institution of the country has succeeded in achieving a double return on investment. This is while with increased investment, the amount of value creation grows exponentially.

New approaches of the institution are based on ‘enhancing diversity’ and ‘expanding access’

She continued, addressing Masoud Pezeshkian, the President: Public libraries can play a serious and decisive role in building a dynamic and progressive society for future Iran and directly contribute to the creation of cultural, social, economic, and educational values. To achieve this role, the institution’s new approaches are based on two strategic concepts: ‘enhancing diversity’ and ‘expanding access’ in various aspects, including spaces, services, events, users, technological developments, and library resources. These two strategic axes form the basis for the institution’s movement towards a new generation of public libraries with characteristics such as increased social participation, promotion of lifelong education and learning, and strengthening creativity and innovation, which are compatible with the needs of today’s Iranian society.

Nazarboland, finally, while thanking the President and the Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance for entrusting the responsibility of the Secretary-General of the Public Libraries Institution to a librarian, stated: Reviewing the structure and legal frameworks supporting the country’s public libraries, creating sustainable and diverse financial resources, material and spiritual support for human resources working in the Public Libraries Institution, allocating a special share from the social responsibilities of institutions for continuous book purchases for public libraries, and creating a basis for expanding and deepening the relationship between public libraries, schools, and universities, are several key points for advancing affairs and removing obstacles to public library activities. By following this path, I am confident that the Public Libraries Institution of the country can become one of the drivers of cultural and social development in dear Iran and transform today’s cultural investments of the country into tangible, sustainable, and growing returns for the future. This report will be completed…