Jozi Book Fair Small Publishers Roundtable

Jozi Book Fair organised a Small Publishers Roundtable on Procurement and Public Libraries on 01 March 2011 at Zabalaza Theatre , Khanya College. The event was attended by about 30 people from various organisations including NGOs, small publishers and booksellers, government departments, writers associations, etc
 
The aims of the roundtable were to :
 
  • To provide a platform for different partners in publishing industry including Small Publishers, emerging and established Writers, Public libraries officials, book distibutors to come together and discuss government processes regarding procurement of books and reading materials at the level of public libraries
  • To discuss the difficulties the Small Publishers faces in benefiting from public libraries procurement processes
  • To provide a networking space for government officials, small publishers and writers to develop strategies on how they can work together
  • To use the day ( 01 March 2011) to encourage as many exhibitors and small publishers to register for exhibition stalls at Jozi Book Fair's main event in August 2011.
 
There were four(4) panelists who were invited to speak on different issues regarding public libraries procurement processes and the difficulties faced by small publishers to get their books into public libaries. The panelists were Alan Kolski from Botsotso who was speaking on behalf of the small publishers, Puleng Kekana from the Department of Arts and Culture, Mandla Ngubeni from Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Council and Michael Muendane , author and Director of Soul Talk Consultancy.
 
Alan Kolski started by speaking about the frustrations faced by the small publishers whose books are not being bought and distributed in schools, libraries and by booksellers. He also suggested that government must also implement a qouta system similar to the one used in sports in order to address this problem. That small publishers needs a push start in order for them to sell their books.
 
Puleng Kekana from Department of Arts and Culture started his presantation by explaining how funds from the national treasury flows provincial offices of DAC until it reaches libraries. That provincial offices needs to produce business plans in order to access those funds, and that the issue of purchasing new reading material is a priority, as is the building of new libraries, improving internet services in libraries, etc. but also that their procurement processes is guided by the supply chain management processes at national level.
 
Mandla Ngubeni's presentation started by explaining how at local municipal level librarians also have to follow supply chain management processes that includes tenders that depends on pricing and bidding by suppliers. That the process starts at a library with the librarian writing a profile of the movement and circulation of books in their libraries. That the onus is on individual librarian to motivate and intervene to ensure that relevant books that are being read and demanded by the library users are made available.
 
Michael Muendani talked about how South Africa Bookstores sells foreign and imported books, and that there is a need to focus on schools and school libraries in order to encourage the culture of reading and writing. That we need to read books that are written by South African writers and publishers.
 
Way forward :
  • Jozi Book Fair gave an undertaking that the fair will do whatever possible to provide support and assistance to small publishers now and in future.
  • That the relevant government department including Department of Arts and Culture, Department of Education, public library officials especially at municipal levels be sensitive to the difficulties faced by small publishers and emerging writers with regard to them benefiting and accessing public libraries procurement processes.