The Ljubljana Resolution on Books
world book summit 2011
Book: the Bearer ofof the Human principles of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion Diversity ofDevelopment Cultural Expressions, the importance of books as key vehicles of human development, cultural pluralism and
Ljubljana, the UNESCO World Book Capital 2010 and organiser of the World Book Summit 2011, hereby announces The Ljubljana Resolution on Books, which stresses, in accordance with the guiding sustainable diversity. The Ljubljana Resolution on Books combines the viewpoints held by UNESCO and key national and international organisations operating in the field of books, ranging from authors, publishers, libraries and bookshops to institutions that deal with the development of reading literacy and reading culture. The Ljubljana Resolution on Books proposes fundamental directives for bearers of public book-related policies and professional associations that operate in this field. These directives are derived from specific good practices in different countries and good practices that have been derived from the implemented Ljubljana World Book Capital 2010 programme. These directives will facilitate the setting up of strong foundations for the long-term development of the entire book chain and thus provide friendly access to books, facilitate high quality and diverse book and magazine production and increase the level of reading literacy. These directives consider the special characteristics of individual language-determined book markets and strive to increase access to books and the diversity of book production and thus facilitate creativity, strengthen knowledge, increase reading literacy, develop language, increase the level of intercultural dialogue, enhance cultural diversity, provide better social cohesion and higher quality leisure time. The Ljubljana Resolution on Books thus derives from the comprehension of books as the foundation for the development of individuals and society.
svetovni vrh knjige 2011 Resolution on Books stresses and recommends those responsibilities and functions that are related to books as public goods:
The responsibilities and functions of national and local authorities, as well as of the professional associations and civil society organizations that operate in the field of books, cover different areas, while The Ljubljana
1. In planning public policies on books, the complex nature of books needs to be considered and cultural, educational, scientific, economic and social policies need to be harmonised. The development of books depends on the optimum operation of the entire book chain, from authors, publishers, libraries and bookshops to the readers. Public policies should therefore prepare their measures concerning books in harmony
Knjiga: nosilka razvoja cˇlovesˇtva
with the operation of all these links.
2. Due to its importance and its special and complex nature, the book market requires attention regardless of whether it is operating on the principle of fixed prices for books and regardless of its size, as books are a medium that is part of human activity in one way or another and thus predominantly a matter of public interest. Considering the specific nature of books as cultural goods that convey values and meaning, state authorities and professional associations should encourage the players on the book market to determine the best possible model that will connect authors, publishers, bookshops and libraries, thus achieving optimum results in the operation of the book market and the best possible access to books. 3. State authorities should pay attention to the operation of the book market from the viewpoint of tax arrangements, both in terms of the taxation of books as well as taxation of royalties and paper. State authorities should see to the proper enforcement of copyright legislation. Furthermore, in order for the field of books to develop harmoniously, they should continually search for the optimum relationship between favourable book tax rates and a system of direct state subsidies in support of the production and dissemination of books. For the great majority of book markets, this relationship is the fundamental factor of development and above all the decisive factor regarding quality, diversity and access to book production. 4. In direct support of publishing and authors, state authorities should pay special attention to translations of literary works from different world languages, especially if underrepresented on the world book market, as in this way, the readers will be able to access the production of different language environments, which is the best way to facilitate intercultural dialogue, multilingualism and cultural diversity, while such translations also facilitate the development of the national language. 5. National and local authorities should systematically take care of the development of a library network of the high quality and should especially facilitate those public service programmes that are in harmony with the development of book markets. Libraries are an indispensible part of the book chain and, in addition to the schooling system, they are a long-term decisive factor in the formation of reading habits. The network of general interest libraries has the ability to meet the needs of the local environment with regard to book culture in a complex manner, so libraries should be motivated to search for innovative ways to reach readers that are not necessarily connected to lending library material. 6. The occurrence of new sales channels for books opens new possibilities for them to be more accessible to readers, but the market of bookshops remains the foundation of each book market and the decisive factor in its economic success. The operating conditions for the bookshop network are thus of public interest and the network’s quality and development should be the goal of the national and local authorities. 7. As regards increased access to books and information in books, state authorities should facilitate the development of information support for book markets, as this represents the infrastructural basis used by publishers, librarians, booksellers and readers alike and is therefore in the public interest. At the same time, such a system represents the basis for collecting the relevant data on the operation of individual book markets and such data represent the basis for preparing concrete measures aimed at development issues. 8. Electronic books and electronic book readers do not pose a threat to printed books, instead increasing access to books and enhancing reading while they are also important in acquiring new readership. State authorities and professional associations should pay attention to the positive impacts on the development of publishing activities brought about by the new book medium and should contribute to creating favourable conditions for the harmonious, balanced and diverse development of publishing in this area. 9. International and national professional associations operating in the field of books are among the key actors that can contribute to the coherent functioning of the book market. The Ljubljana Resolution on Books recommends that professional associations lead an active policy in promoting and implementing cultural policies in the book sector, in line with the objectives of the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions; that they implement concrete projects such as campaigns promoting books and reading; and that they continue operating as a connecting platform gathering the views and interests of all the book chain components. It is imperative that individual professional associations operating in the field of books cooperate and give recognition to the distinctive nature of thus strengthen the awareness of books as complex cultural goods, provide opportunities and create conditions for the long-term and sustainable development of a creative, rich and diverse book industry.
Ljubljana, March 2011
Supported by: