Amman: The State of Qatar will have a strong role during the Amman International Book Fair’s silver jubilee celebrations scheduled for from September 24 to October 3.
Qatar’s Ministry of Culture and a number of Qatari publishers will showcase their production alongside many Arab and international publishing houses.
Jabr Abu Fares, President of the Union of Jordanian Publishers and director of the fair, said this year’s edition would feature a wide range of participating countries, publishers and new publications, including several publishers taking part for the first time.
He highlighted Qatar’s participation as part of its continued presence at major Arab cultural events, saying it would help strengthen cultural ties between Qatar and Jordan and give Jordanian readers greater access to Qatari literary and cultural works.
The fair will also feature a diverse cultural programme, including literary and poetry evenings, seminars and discussions on contemporary cultural issues. Among the topics to be addressed is the growing impact of artificial intelligence on writing and publishing.
Promoting reading remains one of the fair’s main objectives, alongside encouraging writing and book ownership. Organisers also aim to strengthen interest in printed books while recognizing the growing importance of digital publishing.
Abu Fares said particular attention would be given to children and young people, stressing the importance of families, schools and cultural institutions in developing a lasting culture of reading.
Organizers expect strong public attendance, building on the success of previous editions, with schools, universities and students invited to take part in the event and its activities. Abu Fares said that finding a venue for the book fair was challenging given the lack of venues that are suitable for the scale of an international book fair in Amman.
Setting up a temporary kind of venue presents logistical challenges of its own, which is why the book fair’s management was keen on selecting the most suitable venue from among available options, he added.
The goal is to provide an appropriate environment for publishers and readers, Abu Fares stressed, ensuring the fair’s continuity and development year after year.
Challenges facing the publishing industry include marketing and the decline of some traditional markets for printed books, he said, challenges that are not limited to Jordan, rather extend across various Arab countries.
The shift toward digital books has become increasingly evident at a number of institutions and universities, due to the rising cost of printed books, as well as students and readers’ growing familiarity with digital media, the President of the Union said.
Abu Fares called for creating reliable digital platforms for protecting authors and publishers’ copy rights’ against digital piracy.
The rising cost of paper, printing, shipping, and imports have had a direct impact on book prices, while developments in global transport and trade ultimately affect the cost of producing books, he noted.
Taking readers’ purchasing power into consideration is really important, particularly given the economic burdens weighing down on families and students, Abu Fares said. He called on publishers to seek affordable prices as to make original works accessible to readers. The President of the Union said that the use of artificial intelligence technologies can benefit authors, publishers, and readers alike, yet, he cautioned against relying on them without verification and review, particularly in intellectual, political, and historical works. — QNA
