NATIONAL BOOK WEEK

Explore the magic and the value of reading.

The South African Book Development Council, in association with the Department of Arts & Culture, will launch the inaugural National Book Week. As part of a national effort to embrace the value of reading and the important role it plays in a nation’s development, the South African Book Development Council, in association with the Department of Arts & Culture, launches the inaugural National Book Week from September 6 to 13 this year.

National Book Week is dedicated to promoting reading and encouraging everyone to explore the magic of books. Books support every aspect of a child’s development, but are also important for adults, especially because of the skewed development in South Africa.

“Reading exposes people to a variety of life situations, enabling them to deal with different aspects of life,” says an SABDC representative. “This in turn means that we are able to function more effectively in society, enabling us to make better decisions and participate actively and contribute in all aspects of life, e.g. in our economy, at work, in our family. It therefore also empowers us to be critical of life around us and change it for our improvement.”

National Book Week will focus its activities this year at Museum Africa in Newtown, Johannesburg and the programme will include Reading Tents for children, youth, the visually impaired and adults, and will provide a fun and appealing environment to encourage reading, as well as celebrate books as part of what we do in everyday life. National Book Week aims to celebrate the book and the love of reading, while showcasing South African and African writers, publishers, booksellers and related businesses.

Elitha van der Sandt, CEO of SABDC says “National Book Week is something new and different, and offers innovative ways to introduce South Africans to the magic of books. We all have a role to play in promoting reading and increasing access to books. There are different organisations and initiatives that already exist to promote and encourage reading, and National Book Week hopes to provide a platform to expose these organisations to a wider audience.”

Entrance to National Book Week programmes will be free, encouraging schools, family and the general public to attend. Industry stakeholders will be provided an opportunity to participate in exhibitions, seminars and training activities which will form part of the interesting programme designed to appeal to the public, as well as key players and investors in the publishing industry.