Frankfurt Book fair and Colombo International Book Fair

We are going to further look at Frankfurt Book Fair (FBF) which is the world's largest trade fair for books assuming that Sri Lankans could learn a few lessons. Frankfurt Book Fair or Frankfurter Buchmesse is held annually in mid-October in Frankfurt Germany. Apart from the large number of visitors to the fair, FBF is attended by over 7000 exhibitors from all around the world representing over one hundred of nations. It is considered as the most important international book fair for international deals and trading.

Among other things, the FBF is a meeting place for representatives from book publishing and multimedia companies to secure international publishing rights and licensing fees. The book fair has a tradition that goes back as far as 500 years. It was soon after Johannes Gutenberg had invented the printing in Mainz near Frankfurt that a group of local booksellers commenced the book fair. Frankfurt Book fair was the main European book fair by the end of the 17th century.

However, owing to the political and cultural changes the pre-eminent position enjoyed until then by the book fair was overtaken, though temporarily, by the Leipzig Book Fair. Following the World War 11,the first book Fair was held in 1949 at the St. Paul's Church. Since then the book Fair has regained its position and remains as the world's largest book fair.

One of the significant aspects of the fair is that apart from it being the prime meeting place for international publishers, book lovers and journalists could to exchange their views on the industry. As a result FBF has also become an ideal venue for launching books. During the book fair many important events take place. For instance, the Peace prize of the German Book trade is given in a ceremony in the Paulskirche. It is also the birth place of the Bookseller/Diagram Prize for the Oddest Title of the Year. Bookseller/Diagram Prize is a humorous award given to the book with oddest title. Every year, many events are added to the book fair which obviously make it more diverse and worthwhile to visit. In 2006, the annual Cape Town Book fair, joint venture, was added. The important campaign Litcam, a campaign against analphabetism began. In 2007, a short story project entitled 'Who's on line? Call for free" was commenced by a group of people for people with migration background.

Apart from the premier venue for book sellers, publishers and book fans around the world, one may be not forget the numerous literary programmes and events that are of international stature that take place at the book fair. More than 60 literary events, discussions were planned against the background of the literary fair. The programme was also accompanied byan extremely diverse cultural programme in the city with the participation of approximately 680artists.

Think global, act local

The book fair has also paid attention to keeping its environmental responsibilities. Measures such as cutting back on drinking water and electricity consumption and air-conditioning, using solar energy and eco-electricity, backing the use of public transport locally and long-distance, integrated waste disposal concept (recycling rate 80 to 90 per cent), use of regionally produced foodstuffs and reusable crockery in the Fair's catering facilities have been adapted aimed at the protecting environment. This year's events include programmes such as conference on the future of publishing which discusses a wide range of topics including the latest trends in digital publishing and future scenarios in the industry.

According to the director of the Frankfurt Book Fair, Juergen Boos, though China is this year's Guest of Honour, the book fair is a podium for authors, books and publishers. The book fair is poised to raise issues concerning the freedom of expression and china's role in the publishing industry.

Colombo International Book Fair

Although it is absurd to compare FBF with the Colombo International Book Fair (CIBF), there are many lessons that the organizing committee of CIBF can learn from the Frankfurt Book Fair. Besides CIBF organisers' failure to generate a positive interest in the public on literature, they have not fully exploited the trading potentials of the event. The fact that should be emphasised here is that the quality and the content of the books that were on display, had not been improved over the years.

It took a worse turn at the recently concluded CIBF. The much-publicised event was turned into a cheap year- end sale or a stock clearance exercise. There were hardly any important peripheral events such as literary discussions, meeting of authors with representatives of the publishing agents or a central theme which was the main focus of the book fair. If there was a meeting of authors with the publishers, that was not intended to discuss issues in the publishing industry but to eulogise an author and to hail the book by the author as the ' Golden book' of the year.

If the organisers of CIBF are really interested in establishing a vibrant book fair tradition in Sri Lanka, it is high time to take stock of the affairs and to discuss, first among themselves, on the modalities that can be adapted in order to make the Colombo International Book Fair, at least, a regional event. Apart from local publishers, it is imperative to make sure the presence of international publishers and authors from diverse parts of the globe.

Opportunities and win-win scenarios

One of the overlooked areas of the CIBF was that it seemed that none of the organisers had explored the immense potential of the event in attracting book fans and of course, tourists to the book fair. The organisers could solicit the presence of the Government entities such as Ministries of Cultural Affair, Trade, and Tourism in the CIBF. For instance, peripheral events could be planned to attract direct foreign investment and promoting travel and tourism and trading with Sri Lanka along side with CIBF. Events such as interactive literary discussions, symposiums on the latest literary trends like diasporic literature, digital publishing and promoting Sri Lankan authors in Sinhala, English and Tamil, can add the much needed diversity to the book fair. It should be mentioned that there is a possibility of promoting Sri Lanka as a prime destination of publishing industry in the region since the country possess a skilled work force. The organisers need to seriously focus on promoting the Colombo International Book Fair as a regional if not an international event next year and planning could start today itself by taking a self-evaluation of the lessons learnt in 2009. The success will be a win-win scenario for the stakeholders in the industry as well as for authors, book fans instead of it becoming an annual failure.