The Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance will take action against publishers who oppose its directive on the revision of books and print their own versions, said Ali Jannati, minister of culture and Islamic guidance.
Addressing a ceremony to honor organizers of the 28th Tehran international Book Fair (TIBF), he said the TIBF should become a cultural hub and not a place solely for book sales. To achieve this, “we all should help build a culture of book reading and this is the ministry’s primary objective.”
At several sessions last year different plans for the TIBF were discussed. “I proposed that we have four specialized fairs in various seasons of the year,” Jannati said, quoted by MNA.
Such a move would undoubtedly be advantageous, but seeing the passion of the people for the Tehran Book Fair, “we concluded that the fair should be the sole comprehensive event.” However, plans to hold specialized book fairs targeting university students, children and young adults, are on the agenda.
The minister also referred to the private sector’s involvement in the TIBF and said, “This measure produced good results. The private sector must be supported in accomplishing such tasks. Our policy is to assign them responsibilities gradually.”
Ali-Akbar Ashari and Mehdi Firoozan on behalf of the publishers’ committee of the 28th TIBF, received commendations plaques from Jannati.
New Venue
Ashari, who is also advisor to the Tehran Book Garden project, referred to the mayor’s suggestion to hold the next book fair at the Book Garden, which is under construction in Abbas-Abad Hills in north-central Tehran and said, “In a meeting with the cultural minister, I proposed that a working group investigate the possibility of holding the fair at the new location and give a response by July.”
It is most likely that the book fair will be relocated for its 30th edition. “If the Book Garden project is not completed on time, the 29th round of the book fair will be held at the current location in Tehran’s Mosalla (prayer ground).
“A large volume of equipment, including shelves and counters, have been ordered and installed in different parts of the garden. Close to $10 million have been spent so far,” said Ashari.
