Commemoration of Book Day in Sanandaj; An Opportunity to Promote the Culture of Reading in Kurdistan

According to the correspondent of the Iran Book News Agency (IBNA) in Sanandaj, the representative of the Supreme Leader in Kurdistan, while appreciating all those concerned and involved in public libraries, stated: Reading a book means knowing. Reading articles, magazines, newspapers, watching educational films, listening to podcasts, and audiobooks are also part of knowing and contribute to increasing human knowledge.

Hojjat-ul-Islam Abdolreza Pourzahabi continued: It should not be assumed that reading is a job for idle people or requires a lot of time; a book adds to human knowledge, and its importance should not be overlooked.

He emphasized: Encouraging youth to read, introducing prominent authors, and promoting reading through family activities and cultural discussions are among the strategies to preserve the status of books.

The representative of the Supreme Leader in Kurdistan advised: Using the poems of Hafez and Sa’di and discussing books within the family can distance the younger generation from the harms of virtual space and familiarize them with cultural traditions.

Let’s Strive to Preserve the Value and Importance of Books

The Deputy Political, Security, and Social Governor of Kurdistan Province also stated at this ceremony, referring to the importance of books: Books have always held a special place in society, but the expansion of virtual space has threatened this position. We must strive to ensure that, in parallel with contemporary sciences, the value and importance of books remain preserved, and their status is maintained as in the past.

Ali Akbar Varmaghani referred to the Supreme Leader’s emphasis, adding: He has always visited book fairs and, in numerous speeches, emphasized the importance and promotion of reading culture, which demonstrates the status and importance of books and reading in our society.

He further stated that today, one of the ways to transmit historical experiences and the era of Holy Defense to the next generation is through the pens of writers. He emphasized: Writings related to the epics and sacrifices of the brave defenders of this land are a lasting document for future generations. Cultural institutions, no matter how small, must play their role in promoting the culture of reading, and the status of writers must be preserved.

Book Week; An Opportunity to Redefine the Status of Books and Reading

The Director-General of Public Libraries of Kurdistan Province also stated at the beginning of the ceremony: November 15th (Aban 24th), coinciding with the anniversary of the commemoration of Allameh Sayyed Mohammad Hossein Tabatabaei, a prominent interpreter of the Holy Quran and author of Tafsir Al-Mizan, is designated as ‘Book Day, Reading, and Librarianship Day,’ providing a valuable opportunity to redefine the role of books in the social and cultural life of society.

Masoumeh Hassani Khonsar continued: We began the commemoration of Book Day with the slogan ‘Let’s Read for Iran,’ and on this basis, each of us, with a small step, can contribute to the cultural future of the country.

Stating that Book Day is the day of the resurrection of knowledge, she added: This week is an opportunity to reduce the gap between ‘shoulds’ and realities and to redefine the status of books and reading, and it is necessary to be more diligent in promoting a fruitful reading culture.

The Director-General of Public Libraries of Kurdistan Province also provided a report on the activities and status of the province’s libraries, adding: In the province, 56 libraries are covered by the institution, and 25 participatory libraries are active. The total library resources in the province reach one million volumes, and nearly 45,000 active members are in these libraries.

Hassani Khonsar, referring to the opening and reopening of ‘Dr. Mahindokht Motamedi’ Library in Sarab Qamish village and ‘Ibrahim Setoudeh’ Library this year, added: In the coming months, three new libraries, including Nematollahi Bijar Library, Arandan Sanandaj Village Library, and the first mobile library unit in Saqqez County, will be inaugurated.

She continued: Over the past year, nearly 10,000 cultural and educational activities have been held in Kurdistan’s public libraries, including book introductions and reviews, study sessions, special exhibitions, and reading competitions, which have played an effective role in expanding the culture of reading and promoting the cultural literacy of society.

The Secretary of the Book Week of the Public Libraries Institution in Kurdistan Province, referring to the role of public participation in library development, said: Last year, about 34,000 volumes of books were donated to the province’s libraries by benevolent people.

Hassani Khonsar, referring to the public libraries’ support for local authors, said: Last year, nearly 500 million tomans were allocated for purchasing books by local authors of the province.

She also announced the absorption of 19 billion tomans in credit from the Provincial Management and Planning Organization, which has been spent on the repair, equipping, and development of libraries, and 18 libraries have also been repaired and equipped from capital asset acquisition credits.

The Director-General of Public Libraries of Kurdistan Province concluded her remarks by emphasizing: Despite the general tendency towards digital resources, libraries must maintain their position. Today, libraries, with aware managers and diverse programs, have transformed into active cultural centers and social bases.

Kurdistan Province Book Week Honorees

At the end of the ceremony, the honorees of the 33rd Book Week of Kurdistan Province were introduced and appreciated.

In the category of selected library members, Delvin Gholami (under seven years old), Maryam Zamani and Marsana Shahabi (seven to eleven years old), Kalin Tawfiqi (twelve to seventeen years old), Fatemeh Faali (eighteen to thirty-four years old), Hossein Khezri Chidar (thirty-five to fifty-nine years old), and Ali Fallahi (sixty years and older) were introduced as distinguished members.

In the category of the province’s distinguished book-loving family, the family of Mr. Kamil Safarian, along with Seyyed Zahra Sajjadi and Mehrad Safarian, were honored.

In the category of book supporters, Seyyed Gharib Sajjadi (Governor of Sanandaj), Ahmad Mohammad Rezaei (Governor of Baneh), Farshad Manbari (Mayor of Kamyaran), Mohammad Raouf Zabihi (active benefactor in Bisaran village of Sarvabad County), and Ali Khosravi (benefactor from Saqqez County) were honored.

Also, in the category of book and librarianship veterans, Rostamali Honarparvar from Qorveh, Helaleh Tourani from Marivan, Mansour Safari from Divandarreh, Masoumeh Pourteimour from Bijar, and Soudabeh Rahimi from Sanandaj were introduced as the distinguished veterans of the province.

In the category of the province’s distinguished librarians, Hossein Saeedi from Baneh, Bahman Mohammadi from Dehgolan, Nazdar Abdkhoda from Saqqez, Azadeh Kouliyand from Marivan, Heydar Rahmati from Sanandaj, and Fatemeh Zandi from Qorveh were appreciated.

Screening of the ‘National Hero Event’ and the 21st Commemoration of Jihad and Resistance Literature

It is worth noting that following the Book Week ceremony, the ‘National Hero Event’ and the 21st Commemoration of Jihad and Resistance Literature, featuring the unveiling of three endorsements by the Supreme Leader, were broadcast online via videoconference for the attendees.

The book ‘Hamnafas-e Atash va Barf’ (Companion of Fire and Snow), whose Supreme Leader’s endorsement is unveiled today as part of the ‘National Hero Event,’ narrates the eventful life of Shaheed Saeed Ghahari Saeed and is recounted by his wife, Farahnaz Rasouli, and written by Farhad Khezri, one of Kurdistan Province’s authors.