Media Should Introduce Obscure Authors During Book Week / Khorasan Razavi’s Pioneering Role in Print Publishing

According to the correspondent of Iran Book News Agency (IBNA) in Mashhad, Hossein Masgarani, at the “Book Horizon” event held on Tuesday afternoon in Shahid Asgharzadeh Hall of Imam Reza (AS) Complex in Mashhad, stated: Book Week is a symbolic event, and throughout the year we should be thinking about holding book-centric events.

He added: Associations, organizations, the Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults, and others can provide good environments for promoting a culture of reading, but there is a missing link in this regard. A book that goes through the production cycle is the product of the thought of a creative and innovative author. We should not easily overlook the prominent role of authors, translators, and writers. They must be continuously recognized and encouraged.

He stated that “Shafiei Kadkani creates a current and turbulence with each of his books,” and added: “We launched the ‘Book of the Year’ selection several years ago so that society can become more familiar with authors, as well as with new written works.”

Masgarani explained: Unfortunately, today there is also a trend of ‘book manufacturing’ (referring to low-quality or fabricated books), so we must continuously honor real authors. These individuals should not be marginalized.

Role of Media in Book Week

The Director-General of the Department of Culture and Islamic Guidance of Khorasan Razavi, referring to the role of media in Book Week, said: Media should introduce these obscure individuals during Book Week so that they are encouraged to write and others are also eager to create works.

Masgarani emphasized the necessity of innovation in promoting a reading culture, stating: We should not neglect new spaces for reading; we must pay special attention to these spaces.

Mosque Libraries Also Need a New Perspective

He added: Mosque libraries also need a new perspective; we must activate them to witness good developments in neighborhoods.

The Deputy for Cultural and Press Affairs of the General Department of Culture and Islamic Guidance of Khorasan Razavi also stated: Mashhad is the country’s base for written culture. The presence of the sacred shrine of Imam Reza (AS), who as a shining sun has gathered scholars in this city, has led to the production of diverse religious science books throughout different periods of history.

Yousef Amini considered the existence of seminaries as another factor in Khorasan Razavi becoming the country’s base for written culture, and in this regard, he said: The presence of seminaries, Ferdowsi University, and Azad University has brought together great professors, leading to the production of many books throughout the year.

Khorasan Razavi’s Pioneering Role in Print Publishing

He continued: The existence of many non-governmental publishing institutions that have been active in Mashhad and the province since the past is no secret, hence we have been pioneers in the field of print publishing. The existence of numerous print media and news agencies in the province has also enabled us to claim a strong position in written culture.

Amini, stating that Book Week is a capacity and a symbol that spreads the name of the book throughout the country during its celebration, said: This week is the starting point; our working year regarding Book Week begins this week and continues until next year. We plan for the entire year starting from this week.

Book Production, Distribution, and Promotion

The Deputy for Cultural and Press Affairs of the General Department of Culture and Islamic Guidance of Khorasan Razavi stated: Given the vastness of the book and publishing sector, if we were to make a rough estimate, we could divide activists in the book sector into three parts: book production, distribution, and promotion. The production section includes 15 groups, job fields, and professions in various areas such as translation, editing, illustration, authorship, etc.

He referred to the distribution section, saying: In this section, bookstores, distribution centers, etc., are working as the showcases for books. In the promotion sector, the culture of study and reading is carried out by numerous groups such as university professors, public groups, and many individuals who are dedicatedly working in this section.

Amini continued: Thanks to the efforts of my colleagues in the Book Week commemoration headquarters, our effort this year was to hold a magnificent celebration with the presence of all book people for the first time, which was achieved tonight. Books have much room for work because written culture in Khorasan Razavi has a high status and long history.

Book Week Celebration Must Differ Each Year

The Deputy Governor for Political, Security, and Social Affairs of Khorasan Razavi also said at the event: This week is a week to commemorate the status and greatness of books, librarians, and readers. Every year this event must differ from the previous year because generations today have turned into years, students this year are different from last year, and everything is changing rapidly.

Amirullah Shamghadri, referring to the importance of innovation in promoting a culture of reading, said: Young people are our pride and capital who have transformed reading methods into modern approaches.

Library: The Best Place for Intellectualizing

Shamghadri added: The library is the best place for intellectualizing; its members should increase day by day. This requires ideation and innovation. Libraries are one of the best places for intellectualizing sessions.

The Deputy of the Khorasan Razavi Book Headquarters stated: “At one time, I was the Director-General of the province’s libraries, and since I was also in charge of the mountaineering board, I organized the ‘Book Mountaineering and Mountain Reading’ event. Based on this, we started our mountaineering events from the library for a period, in such a way that, for example, to ascend a peak in Khaf, we went to the Khaf library, and each mountaineer donated a book to the Khaf library. Therefore, we need innovation to promote a reading culture.”

Necessity of Promoting Reading Culture

Shamghadri continued: Today, through various methods, we must promote reading for the well-being of society and to achieve peace.

According to IBNA; At this meeting, posters of four events that will take place from today until the end of the year 1404 (Persian calendar, corresponding to March 2026) by the General Department of Culture and Islamic Guidance of Khorasan Razavi in the field of books were unveiled. These four events included “Book-Loving Villages and Nomadic Tribes,” “Book Reading Club Cup,” “Story Writing Workshops,” and the “22nd selection period for the Book of the Year of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

Also, honoring librarians, booksellers, and activists of the book ecosystem, poetry reading by Faramarz Akbari, and reading parts of the book “Our Story Became a Proverb” adorned this ceremony.