Discover EIBF’s activities at the Frankfurt Book Fair 2024

Image of the podium and the audience during the Frankfurt Book Fair 2023 opening ceremony

The Frankfurt Book Fair is just around the corner, and we’re excited to share EIBF's lineup of events and activities planned for this year. Don't miss out on what we have prepared for you!  

 

EIBF Members Workshop – Vis-à-Vis: Understanding Each Other BA’s  

On Thursday, 17 October, EIBF is organizing a workshop that aims to bring together booksellers’ associations’ representatives from our membership. This workshop, which will take place at 10:40 in the room Argument (3C West) at the Frankfurt Book Fair fairgrounds, will provide a unique opportunity for our members to meet and share insights about the best practices in their associations, their history, functioning, systems, initiatives, and more.

During an informal roundtable discussion, we will tackle the topics of membership management, relationships and communication with governments and institutions, or promoting diversity and representation in an association’s membership.

 

“The Booksellers of the Future: Ideas and Projects for European Training of Booksellers.”

On 17 October at 16:30, EIBF, together with the Italian Booksellers Association (ALI), is organizing a panel titled The Booksellers of the Future: Ideas and Projects for European Training of Booksellers. The panel will take place at the Italian collective stand in the Hall 5.0 (A22). It will be moderated by EIBF’s Policy Assistant, Lorenzo Dall’Omo, and will include the following speakers: Aldo Addis (Italian Booksellers School), Luis Gonzalez (Fundacion Germán Sánchez Ruipérez), Caroline Meneghetti (L’Ecole de la Librairie) and Judith Hoffmann (Mediacampus).

The panel will focus on the topic of bookseller training and bookselling schools. What is taught in bookselling schools in different countries? And how can collaboration between different European bookselling schools be expanded? These and many more questions will explore how we can bring the book markets of different European realities even closer together through booksellers’ training.

 

RISE Bookselling Study on consumer trends, behaviours and needs

The new exciting RISE Bookselling Study on consumer trends, behaviours and needs will be unveiled at the Frankfurt Book Fair! Analysing consumers’ attitudes and habits concerning their reading and book-buying habits across 19 markets all over the globe, the study will be presented at the Frankfurt Studio on Wednesday, 16 October, at 12:00, by EIBF Director Julie Belgrado.

Whether you are a bookseller, journalist, policymaker, publisher, or simply passionate about books, mark your calendars, join the presentation and find out what motivates respondents to read and buy books, what are the preferred genres and book formats depending on the country market, and what are the readers’ expectations from bookshop services and bookstores.

 

“Long Live Literature, Long Live Europe! – The European Union Prize for Literature Turns 15”

Four nominees for the European Union Prize for Literature – Todor Todorov, Deniz Utlu, Tina Vrščaj and Gaea Schoeters – will participate in a panel discussion “Long Live Literature, Long Live Europe! - The European Union Prize for Literature Turns 15” on 16 October at 14:00 in the Frankfurt Pavilion. Join the panel discussion to learn more about the authors, their works, and the EUPL award! The conversation will explore how each book and story reflects its unique cultural background, while highlighting the shared connections that unite us all. After the panel, join us for a toast celebrating the 15th anniversary of the EUPL at the European Commission stand!

The EUPL anthologies can be found at the national stands of this year’s 13 Prize nominees. The 2024 edition of the anthology features excerpts from the nominated books in their original languages, along with English translations. The anthology is also available for download here.

We will also distribute the “European Stories from Ukraine” publication, available in bilingual editions (EN/UA, IT/UA, DE/UA). It will be available at both the Ukrainian stand and the European Commission’s stand.

Launching the 2023 report on International Bookselling Markets

2023 International Report Cover EIBF square

The European and International Booksellers Federation (EIBF) publishes the 2023 edition of its International Bookselling Markets report. This document marks the fourth consecutive year of EIBF producing such a report –formerly titled Global– which summarizes the current trends shaping the bookselling sector across the globe.

 

 

(You can view the report here)

With input from 24 national booksellers’ associations, EIBF associate members, and partners from 21 countries, this edition of the report has had the highest level of participation yet, and it is a testament to the real capacity of EIBF’s international network. The findings in this report are based on direct input from national booksellers associations, EIBF associate members, and partners in the following countries: Belgium, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Romania, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. 

Additionally, it incorporates book sales data from third-party sources for Australia, Brazil, Colombia, Denmark, India, Mexico and South Africa.

Key findings from the report include: 

  •  Higher turnover for booksellers in 16 surveyed markets. However, this was largely driven by increased supply chain costs and book prices, while unit sales declined in 11 of these countries. Most notably, half of the markets with a reported turnover growth scored under in unit sales. 

     

  • VAT on books remains a significant concern. Increases have been implemented in Switzerland and Sri Lanka as of January 2024, with potential tax changes looming in markets like Finland, Slovakia, and the Netherlands, which could severely impact the industry.

 

The result of the 2023 report on International Bookselling Markets is a testament to EIBF’s growing impact as a network representing the bookselling sector globally and strengthening ties between booksellers' associations across Europe and beyond.

 

 

 

 

EIBF member shares useful tips with fellow booksellers to make the most of the Frankfurt Book Fair

Jennifer Kim

Ahead of the 2024 edition of the Frankfurt Book Fair, we're happy to share with you some helpful tips from Jennifer Kim, EIBF member and participant of the Fair's Frankfurt International Booksellers Programme 2022!


In 2022, I was grateful to take part in the Frankfurt International Booksellers Programme. It was a life-changing experience, with many dear connections made and impactful insights gained. Here are some tips I hope will be helpful for fellow booksellers visiting the largest and oldest book fair in the world!

1. Join The Hof sessions online prior to arrival! Expertly hosted by Felix Zeltner and his team, these sessions feature diverse guests and are deeply welcoming, fun, and
exciting! They’re wonderful opportunities to connect with both experienced and new fair goers from around the world. Apart from The Hof, different years will offer varying opportunities to connect online as well. I would take advantage of all of them.


2. Check out Frankfurt Connect and the Frankfurt Messe App (releasing end of
September). The app was super useful for keeping track of events, appointments, and for the floor maps. Study the maps and strategize your transport to arrive at the closest entrance to your first appointment of the day. For those exploring publishing as well, check out Publishers Without Borders. This group’s Whatsapp community is particularly useful for its active chats for different book fairs around the world.


3. If you are travelling from far away, try to arrive a day or two before the fair begins to counteract the time difference and take advantage of any adjacent/trade events. In 2022, I vastly underestimated jetlag, and was on the verge of work burnout even before arrival. I had just opened Nooroongji Books 2 months prior! This year I am arriving 3 days ahead, with a more relaxed workload leading up to the fair. I’m looking forward to the Rights Meeting on the 15th and the Kids Conference on the 16th. Also this discussion between Yuval Noah Harari and Japanese philosopher Kohei Saito.

4. If you are participating in one of Frankfurter Buchmesse’s International grant programmes, please read all communications from programme managers carefully! So much work goes into the intricate schedule of seminars, workshops, and other fun activities. The team thinks of everything from the hotel, to transport passes, and everything in between. The care and thoughtfulness of all involved truly blew me away. In my jetlagged daze I definitely missed a few details that would have been helpful. I will forever light a candle for our programme manager Pernille Starck, who was so patient, kind, and fun, leading us through the week. Thank you so much Pernille.


5. Schedule a day without appointments to purely wander and discover new delights. 2022 highlights for me were Stiftung Buchkunst, Büchergilde, Books from Taiwan, Swiss publishers, and the Philippines stands. Be sure to also search and save a few local bookstores and art happenings happening concurrent to the fair. I loved Buchhandlung Walther König, the Portikus Art Book Festival, and the Schirn Kunsthalle.

6. OK, now onto the smaller details:

  • Wear the comfiest, squishiest runners you can. I cannot stress this point enough! This year I will pack my trusty Asics for the fair and Oofos recovery sandals for the hotel afterwards.
  •  I used Google Maps to create a list of quickly referenceable saved spots including the fairgrounds, Haus des Buches, event venues, my hotel, the airport, consulate, bookstores, restaurants, etc.
  • Dress light in thin, packable layers. I found myself getting hot and cold throughout the day, taking layers on and off frequently. The less bulk the better.
  • I heaved a metal water bottle all the way from Vancouver that I never used because that tiny bit of extra weight quickly became a burden! A small plastic hotel water bottle to refill and hydrate throughout the day will be more practical.
  • Be sure to pack a power-bank or charger and adapter for your phone. I bought an Orange sim card for Europe ahead of my trip as well. Plentiful data really helped.
  • Last but not least, if you have a hard time resisting beautiful books, bring a second suitcase or duffle bag. This year I will try layering a small suitcase inside a bigger one. Wish me luck!

Thank you for reading and I hope to see you at the Hof session on the 19th! If you’d like to connect, you can find me on Linkedin.

New research paper on bookshops, censorship, and freedom of expression published through EIBF project RISE Bookselling

The new EIBF research paper placed on an orange background.

Through RISE Bookselling, a three-year EU co-funded project run by the European and International Booksellers Federation (EIBF), EIBF published a research paper raising awareness on the growing problem of cultural censorship and the obstacles to freedom of speech. This study investigates the evolving challenges faced by booksellers, mainly the rising political and ideological divides that have fuelled book censorship, and even attacks on bookshops. The research spotlights examples from France, Hungary, USA, Ireland, Australia, Spain, the UK, and Italy. Read more below. 

Over the past decade, the book sector has witnessed a worrying rise of political and religious polarisation, which in turn has reared its head towards bookshops and the invaluable work they do for their communities. Indeed, as bastions of free speech and keen partisans of social justice movements, as well as places of community and dialogue, bookshops have often been at the receiving end of such extremism - be it through censorship or targeted violence.

Through EIBF’s efforts to counter cultural censorship, we have become aware that there is a need to map out the current situation – to provide a state of play of book censorships currently imposed, as well as the common challenges that booksellers are facing. Therefore, this Industry Insights paper aims to raise awareness on the extent of current book censorships, as well as the extent of the violence targeting bookshops around the world. It also collates a list of resources that already exist that help booksellers stand up against censorship.

We hope that this paper may serve as a resource for booksellers so that they can feel less isolated, knowing that what they might have experienced is, unfortunately, not unique and, most importantly, that they are not alone in the fight against book censorships and violence.

This paper, published on the International Day of Democracy on the 15th of September, is the fifth volume in a series of research papers called Industry Insights. You can read the full report, as well as our past Industry Insights, here.

What are Industry Insights? 

RISE Industry Insights is a series of research papers that investigate priority topics for the bookselling sector. They give insights into key issues, policy reforms and other external initiatives that affect the bookselling sector. In addition, they provide network members with tools to engage with relevant political stakeholders, culture sector professionals and private sector representatives to ensure that their priorities are adequately upheld and supported. 

The Industry Insights are produced by Daniel Martín Brennan and Tora Åsling, Policy Advisor and Policy Officer respectively at the European and International Booksellers Federation (EIBF).

​​​​​​​What is RISE Bookselling? 

‘Resilience, Innovation and Sustainability for the Enhancement of Bookselling’, or RISE Bookselling in short, aims to upscale, reinforce and maximise the capacity and resilience of the European bookselling sector. The project helps bookshops innovate and stay up to date with new trends and technologies to ensure their long-term sustainability. This three-year programme is organised by EIBF and co-funded by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union.

Musings over the future of reading and the book sector at the second Book 2.0 in Lisbon, Portugal

Book 2.0 stage

After a thriving and successful first edition in 2023, the Book 2.0 festival returned to the Portuguese capital on the 5th and 6th of September as a leading forum on the future of reading and the book sector, reuniting notable European and international figures to discuss various related topics. EIBF Policy Assistant Lorenzo Dall’Omo was in attendance.

For this year’s edition, once again helmed by APEL (the Portuguese Publishers & Booksellers Association), readers, writers, publishers, booksellers, and many others gathered at Lisbon’s Museu do Oriente, guided by the theme #OFuturoDaLeitura (the future of reading). In true bookish fashion, the event was divided into three chapters. Let us then turn the page and begin.

Chapter 1 – The Future of Publishing in the Digital Age

Pedro Sobral, president of APEL, inaugurated the festival with a presentation on the current state of the Portuguese book market, titled "Book Market: Buying and Reading Habits in Portugal." While there was much to celebrate, such as a 7% increase in the country’s publishing sector over the last year and a general rise in reading habits, a concerning decline in reading in rural and isolated areas was also observed, reflecting a similar trend in other European countries. This underscored the need to connect these areas to spaces where reading can thrive and emphasized the importance of easy access to places like bookshops.

Following the opening speech, Vanessa Portillo from the World Literacy Foundation (WLF) delivered an inspiring, though sobering, presentation on the global literacy crisis. Over 773 million people worldwide are illiterate, and a staggering 2 billion people are functionally illiterate, meaning they lack the reading and writing skills necessary to manage daily tasks, both domestic and professional. Additionally, over 54% of adults possess literacy skills below a 6th-grade level. To combat this, among WLF’s innovative projects is a 'literacy pen', which uses technology to aid literacy acquisition through written and visual repetition.

Writer Jeneva Rose followed with a deeply personal speech about her journey to becoming a best-selling author, where social media played a key role in her success. In today’s saturated online world, where everyone is competing for attention, innovation and creativity are essential to standing out. This is also true for business owners like booksellers, who must balance their online and offline presence. Rose's message was clear: with challenges come opportunities, and innovation and creativity are the keys to success. Don’t be afraid to play with it and take risks – it will pay off eventually.

EIBF Co-President Fabian Paagman also contributed to the conference with a video message, highlighting the role of booksellers in fostering and enabling literacy while promoting values of peace, democracy, and tolerance. In today’s politically tense climate, it is crucial to continue advocating for booksellers and their vital role as community spaces. For a reminder of the significance of bookshops, revisit our recent RISE campaign.

What a captivating start that was! Let’s continue.

Chapter 2 – From Ecological Footprint to Rethinking Diversity

The second chapter focused on ecology and sustainability in the book sector. Rachel Martin, Global Sustainability Director at Elsevier, opened with a presentation on a study measuring the carbon footprint of the Portuguese publishing market.

Her findings showed that while the publishing industry is responsible for only a small portion of overall emissions, systemic changes within individual industries can spark broader, more impactful shifts. For example, what if a simple QR code could show how many emissions a book has generated? You can’t change what you don’t measure, and visibility into carbon footprints can raise awareness of our shared ethical responsibility. Furthermore, as more data on carbon emissions becomes available, these insights will only improve.

Incidentally, we were fortunate enough to record an episode of our Let’s Talk Bookselling podcast with Rachel, which you can listen to here. Don’t forget to also check out our report on sustainability in the bookselling sector for best practices that can help booksellers run more eco-conscious bookshops.

You’re making great progress! Now, let’s move on to the final chapter.

Chapter 3 – Education as a Gateway to Unleashing Human Potential

In this final chapter, the panel on "The Intersection between Culture & Education," featuring Alexandre Homem Cristo (Deputy Secretary of State for Education of Portugal) and Maria de Lurdes Craveiro (Secretary of State for Culture), explored how education can promote cultural engagement and literacy, fostering a deeper connection with the arts and society. Moderated by author and journalist Daniela Santiago, the panel discussed how to ensure that education and culture remain accessible to all, especially in economically disadvantaged areas, and what can be done to bridge the gap in cultural participation.

The discussion emphasized the connection between educational frameworks and cultural engagement, with education serving as a key driver of both literacy and public involvement in the arts. Homem Cristo and Lurdes Craveiro shared valuable insights on how inclusive policies can break down socio-economic barriers that limit access to education and culture. The dialogue also touched on how fostering a love for reading and cultural engagement from an early age can bridge the gap to broader societal participation.

As we reflect on the conversation, it's clear that improving accessibility to culture through education is essential not only for personal empowerment but for creating a vibrant, inclusive cultural landscape.

In conclusion, Book 2.0 provided a dense mosaic of perspectives, lessons, and stories, offering ample food for thought on the future of the book sector and its critical role in supporting healthy, thriving democracies. If you want to look over the entire list of speakers and panellists, head over to their website. We eagerly anticipate what the next editions will bring!

Summer edition of our quarterly EIBF Insights

Insights

The summer edition of our EIBF Insights newsletter is now available!


Welcome to a new edition of EIBF Insights, our quarterly newsletter dedicated to sharing news from the EIBF world and the wider bookselling industry.
 

In this edition, we present the various translations of our Manifesto for the 2024-2029 European Parliamentary term. Additionally, we reflect on RISE Bookselling's communication campaign Bookshops as welcoming and inclusive spaces. Finally, we recap the latest events attended by the EIBF in recent months, including the Rencontres nationales de la librairie, the Brussels Economic Forum, and the 3rd World Expression Forum... Check out the full EIBF Insights 115 here!

EU economic priorities and policies discussed at the 2024 Brussels Economic Forum

Brussels Economic Forum

Last May, EIBF attended the Brussels Economic Forum (BEF), the annual flagship economic conference of the European Commission aimed at bolstering conversation and discussion around key economic topics within Europe, which took place in Brussels, Belgium. Continue reading for a summary of the event.

For over 20 years, the conference has brought together journalists, activists, politicians, academics, and other stakeholders to identify key challenges and debate policy priorities in the field of economics, finance and industry. This year’s edition was particularly poignant and timely, given its proximity to the European elections. A wide range of issues was broached, including the green transition, artificial intelligence, and it subsequent social and economic consequences, and the effects of an ageing population on the European budget.

The event opened with a keynote speech from the prime minister of Lithuania Ingrida Šimonytė, using Lithuania’s journey from occupation to democracy to illustrate the importance of a strong and united Europe, as well as the paramount importance of voting – a right that should never be taken for granted.

Another keynote speech followed, where European Investment Bank President Nadia Calviño outlined the main financial activities of the EU across the past years, including investments towards a green transition and financial assistance to Ukraine to rebuild vital infrastructure such as roads and schools.

And of perhaps particular interest to the book sector, an Oxford-style debate was held on the topic of AI, in specific its potential pitfalls and opportunities across the social and economic spheres. The statement discussed was “This forum believes that Artificial Intelligence will have a positive impact on the European economy and society”, with Diane Coyle (Bennett Professor of Public Policy, University of Cambridge) speaking in favour of the motion and Gemma Galdón-Clavell (Founder and CEO, Eticas Consulting) speaking against the motion.

Concerns were brought up about the general policy space’s lack of adequate knowledge of AI, which in turn could lead to uninformed policies with detrimental effects on overall privacy, safety, and wellbeing. In addition, the entire functioning mechanism of algorithmic based AI was called into question, given its tendency to neglect and dismiss outliers, which could amplify already existing societal inequalities. On the other hand, the innovative potential of AI was also brought up, which, if regulated appropriately, could significantly bolster economic opportunities and productivity. While there was no mention of the cultural sector, EIBF will doubtlessly monitor relevant developments in this sphere, vouching for a vibrant book industry whilst protecting bookseller interests.

Overall, this conference allowed professionals to address fundamental issues about the economic future of Europe amidst an uncertain political horizon. The stakeholders in the sector were able to discuss the challenges of our times, while at the same time coming up with potential solutions. The conference taught us that there are many challenges ahead – none of which can be effectively addressed if we do not inform ourselves and, most importantly, engage in our democratic right to vote.

EIBF participates at the 2024 World Expression Forum in Norway

WEXFO 2024

This 27th and 28th of May, EIBF participated in the 3rd edition of World Expression Forum, a conference taking place in Lillehammer, Norway, and is a meeting place and driving force for global cooperation to ensure freedom of expression for future generations.

Among the attendees were Nobel Peace Prize laureates, national and European policymakers, researchers, representatives from international organisations and other key stakeholders and freedom fighters from all over the world. Moreover, as one of the proclaimed goals of WEXFO is to foster the participation of young people in civic and democratic activities, WEXFO also welcomed a large delegation of young professionals from around the globe through different scholarship programmes. Through WEXFO Youth, a separate programme that ran in parallel to the main conference, WEXFO also invited 500 pupils from schools from across Norway to foster dialogue and conversation on the topic of freedom of expression amongst young people.



The conference kicked off with an account of the state of freedom of expression in 2024, by researcher and political scientist, Staffan Lindberg. Lindberg’s research shows that, for the past 15 years, we have seen a decline in states entering a process of democratisation and a rise in states following a process of autocratisation. These developments go hand in hand with a recession of freedom of expression in many large countries, which affects a big percentage of the global population.



Next, WEXFO invited us to ponder the lack of justice and recognition of the copyrighted material that was used, presumably illegally, in the creation of data sets that feed and train generative artificial intelligence tools, like for instance Open AI. Director of the Copyright Licensing Administration Society of Singapore (CLASS), Peter Schoppert, walked us through the process by which thousands of presumably pirated books from many well-known publishers were used for this purpose and why there has been no compensation to neither authors nor publishers to this day.

For the first time, EIBF contributed to the conference programme, as our Policy Officer, Tora Åsling, joined the session "Access to information, books and ideas - how to advance the freedom to read?", together with International Publishers Association (IPA), International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), International Authors Forum & PEN International, with whom we published an international statement on the Freedom to Express, Publish and Read earlier this year. The statement was inspired by the joint effort of the book sector in the USA, who collectively re-published a statement initially issued in 1953 on the Freedom to Read, as part of their work in resisting a wave of book bans in different parts of the country.

As the voice of booksellers, we know that bookshops are cornerstones of healthy democracies because they, as an intrinsic part of the book ecosystem, ensure that all people have access to books. Therefore, we are deeply concerned by the increasing testimonies from bookshops suffering from censorship, attacks and vandalism all around the world and we invite you to sign the statement as organisations and as individuals. You can sign the Freedom to Read statement online here.

WEXFO gave us two days of difficult discussions on the decline of democratisation & rise of autocratisation, internet shutdowns, recession of freedom of expression, censorship & limitations to the access to books.

Despite the sombre image that the reports on the state of freedom of expression in the world today paint, we are strengthened by the connections we made in Lillehammer; people who in various ways use all their wit, strength and resources to fight for a better world where everyone can practice their right to freedom of expression. We return to Brussels deeply moved, but also reaffirmed in our commitment to work to ensure freedom of expression in any capacity we can.

IT EIBF Manifesto 2024-2029

Manifesto dell'EIBF

È IL MOMENTO
DI AGIRE

In difesa della libertà
di espressione, per un futuro sostenibile

Introduzione

L'editoria sta cambiando, adattandosi a un mondo in rapida evoluzione. Nell'era post-COVID, abbiamo osservato la resilienza e l'importanza delle librerie e abbiamo avuto conferma della fedeltà dei loro clienti. Molte librerie hanno già investito nelle tecnologie digitali e nella green economy e vogliono dare il loro contributo per un futuro sostenibile.  

Ma ci sono ancora tante sfide da affrontare. L'impatto ambientale dei libri è diventato un argomento all'ordine del giorno, proprio come quello di altri beni di consumo, come cibo e abbigliamento. Abbiamo anche assistito a una recrudescenza di politiche estremiste e censura, una minaccia concreta per la libertà di espressione. Inoltre, i tassi di alfabetizzazione sono in calo, mentre sempre meno giovani scelgono di intraprendere carriere nel settore dell'editoria.  

I libri influiscono sulle nostre società e comunità a tutti i livelli, dall'istruzione al lavoro, fino alla politica. Crediamo che le librerie debbano essere un porto sicuro e un luogo di inclusione per tutti. Sono fondamentali per promuovere la diversità grazie alle molteplici voci cui danno risalto dai loro scaffali. Le librerie sono parte integrante del tessuto sociale e costituiscono un'importante alternativa ai grandi colossi tecnologici.  

Ecco perché la European and International Booksellers Federation (EIBF) sta cercando di impegnarsi con la politica e le autorità di regolamentazione per garantire a tutti l'accesso ai libri e l'opportunità di tenere il passo con i cambiamenti in atto nel mondo che ci circonda. 

IN DIFESA DI CIÒ CHE CONTA

In difesa della libertà di espressione

Non è un caso che, nel corso della storia, durante i periodi di oppressione politica e disordine sociale, i libri siano stati spesso vietati o limitati, mentre autori, editori e librerie sono stati presi di mira, censurati e messi a tacere, anche con l'uso della violenza. Con l'ascesa degli estremismi in gran parte d'Europa e del mondo, stiamo assistendo a una crescente pressione censoria sui libri.  

L'EIBF e la nostra comunità di librai credono nella libertà di espressione come diritto fondamentale dell'uomo e come caposaldo di una democrazia sana. Sappiamo che leggere libri non è solo piacevole, ma promuove anche lo scambio di conoscenze, stimola nuove idee e incoraggia il pensiero critico. Ecco perché la libertà di espressione è fondamentale. Noi dell'EIBF ci impegniamo a sensibilizzare l'opinione pubblica su questo importante argomento. Ma anche i librai svolgono un ruolo cruciale nella salvaguardia di questa libertà e, proprio come gli editori, gli autori e i bibliotecari, non devono essere penalizzati per essersi schierati in difesa di ciò che conta.

IL NOSTRO INVITO AD AGIRE
Sostegno alla libertà di esprimere, pubblicare e diffondere idee, libri e materiali culturali, intervenendo con fermezza contro ogni forma
di censura.

In difesa dell'alfabetizzazione

Leggere fa bene in molti modi diversi, non solo ai singoli lettori, ma anche alla società nel suo complesso. I libri promuovono conoscenza e istruzione, ovviamente, ma stimolano anche empatia e comprensione del prossimo. Una popolazione alfabetizzata si impegna più attivamente nella società.  

Tuttavia, in Europa come nel resto del mondo, le capacità di lettura si stanno deteriorando e i tassi di alfabetizzazione sono in calo. È risaputo che bassi livelli di alfabetizzazione sono precursori di risultati scolastici peggiori per i bambini. Ma una bassa alfabetizzazione rende anche più vulnerabile la società nel suo insieme. È quindi essenziale lavorare insieme per invertire questa tendenza.

Le librerie e le biblioteche perseguono gli stessi obiettivi di alfabetizzazione, promozione della lettura e accesso ai libri. Hanno alle spalle una lunga storia di collaborazione per invogliare alla lettura. Perché sostenere una popolazione alfabetizzata significa anche sostenere una comunità istruita, attiva e comprensiva.

IL NOSTRO INVITO AD AGIRE
Sostegno a iniziative che promuovono la lettura, per consentire una partecipazione più democratica e informata alla società.

VERSO IL NUOVO

Verso il digitale

La digitalizzazione ha permeato ogni aspetto della vita quotidiana. E questo non è un male. Il digitale e l'analogico non si escludono a vicenda, anzi sono ugualmente necessari e del tutto complementari. Il Covid ha spinto molti rivenditori fisici, comprese le librerie, a investire in e-commerce, social media, eventi ibridi e molto altro ancora. Molte librerie hanno già riconosciuto che il giusto equilibrio tra online e offline è un modello di business vincente.  

Tuttavia, la tecnologia si sta evolvendo a ritmi sempre più incalzanti: la recente diffusione dell'intelligenza artificiale, i book influencer di TikTok e la piattaforma di storytelling Wattpad sono solo alcuni esempi. I librai vogliono tenere il passo con il mondo digitale, ma hanno bisogno degli strumenti giusti, così da non lasciare indietro nessuno.  

Hanno inoltre bisogno di condizioni paritarie per garantire una concorrenza leale: devono essere applicate le regole già esistenti, mentre le nuove normative devono essere eque ed equilibrate, proteggendo gli interessi delle piccole imprese. Intanto, i dati sono diventati un bene prezioso: possedere, consultare e comprendere i dati è fondamentale per soddisfare al meglio le richieste dei lettori e, ancora una volta, per operare in condizioni paritarie.

IL NOSTRO INVITO AD AGIRE
Una legislazione digitale progressista, innovativa ed equilibrata, che abbia a cuore la tutela delle piccole e medie imprese.

Verso la green economy

L'attenzione generale verso il tema della sostenibilità ha fatto passi da gigante negli ultimi anni. Tutti possono dare un contributo, inclusa l'editoria. Molte librerie hanno già intrapreso la loro transizione verso la green economy. Ma alcune non sanno nemmeno da dove cominciare.  

Il settore dell'editoria è un ecosistema interconnesso: dalla pubblicazione alla stampa, dalla distribuzione alla vendita, ogni anello della catena deve interagire con gli altri per raggiungere l'obiettivo comune di una maggiore sostenibilità dell'intero processo. Le librerie hanno quindi bisogno di supporto e assistenza per raggiungere gli obiettivi ambientali, passare all'energia pulita e ridurre l'impatto ecologico della loro attività.

IL NOSTRO INVITO AD AGIRE
Politiche e iniziative ecologiche che offrano alle librerie l'assistenza e gli strumenti necessari per la loro transizione ecologica. 

SOSTENIBILITÀ A LUNGO TERMINE

A sostegno della libertà delle piccole imprese

Le librerie sono sotto pressione da ogni punto di vista. Se da un lato accogliamo con favore leggi utili per l'editoria, dall'altro invitiamo a ponderare molto attentamente qualsiasi nuova legge che possa imporre ulteriori oneri alle librerie negli anni a venire, per evitare effetti deleteri su un settore già fragile. Non possono essere frettolosamente emanate normative che incidono sulla libertà contrattuale, sulle scelte di investimento, sull'operatività o sulle capacità finanziarie delle librerie. Senza i necessari approfondimenti e le dovute valutazioni, queste normative rischiano di far fallire molte librerie imponendo ulteriori vincoli.  

Qualsiasi ulteriore onere burocratico o amministrativo per le piccole e medie imprese finirà per favorire i grandi rivenditori online, che monopolizzeranno il settore, rendendo impossibile la concorrenza leale. Sappiamo che molte librerie sono ancora piccole imprese locali che devono evolversi e investire per soddisfare la domanda in un mercato in rapida evoluzione. E crediamo che i rivenditori locali debbano essere liberi di scegliere se e quando rendere disponibili i loro prodotti e servizi.

IL NOSTRO INVITO AD AGIRE
Sostegno alla libertà dei librai di prendere le proprie decisioni con cognizione di causa, per garantire la sopravvivenza presente e futura delle loro attività.

A sostegno della vendita di libri come opportunità di carriera

La recente impennata dell'inflazione e del costo della vita ha impattato su tutte le attività commerciali, comprese le librerie. Molte librerie riferiscono di avere difficoltà a pagare uno stipendio decente al proprio personale e che i dipendenti di maggior talento se ne vanno preferendo opportunità di carriera più redditizie. I costi fissi sono aumentati enormemente e la gente acquista meno libri per via dell'aumento dei prezzi. In breve, vendere libri è difficile.  

Vogliamo che la vendita di libri possa rappresentare per le nuove generazioni un percorso professionale stimolante e a lungo termine. I librai hanno bisogno di politiche culturali forti che promuovano i libri, la lettura e l'alfabetizzazione. Per questo auspichiamo percorsi formativi dedicati ai librai, nonché iniziative a sostegno dell'istruzione, dell'accesso ai libri e degli eventi di lettura. Sosteniamo anche politiche che supportino l'acquisto di libri a livello locale, come ad esempio appalti pubblici che consentano a scuole e biblioteche di acquistare i loro libri attraverso le librerie locali. In breve, abbiamo bisogno di un maggior numero di lettori che acquistino libri, in modo che le librerie possano avere maggiori entrate, mettendosi nelle condizioni di pagare stipendi migliori. 

IL NOSTRO INVITO AD AGIRE
Politiche e iniziative che riconoscano, sostengano e investano sia nelle attività commerciali fisiche che nella nuova generazione di librai e lettori.

Conclusioni

Le librerie sono imprese locali fondamentali. A differenza dei colossi tecnologici con cui competono, le librerie sono integrate nel tessuto urbano: investono nei loro dipendenti e nelle comunità locali e forniscono un servizio vitale per la società. Le librerie fungono da polo culturale e da spazio di accoglienza, offrendo un punto di incontro per le popolazioni locali e incoraggiando la diversità e l'inclusione nei loro quartieri.  

Senza ricevere alcuna sovvenzione governativa, le librerie promuovono la lettura, l'alfabetizzazione e l'istruzione, partecipando quotidianamente alla creazione di una società della conoscenza. Le librerie vanno bel oltre la semplice vendita di libri: sono parte integrante del mondo in evoluzione in cui viviamo. E continueranno a dare il loro contributo finché riceveranno il sostegno di cui hanno bisogno. 

NL EIBF Manifesto 2024-2029

EIBF Manifest

EEN OPROEP
TOT ACTIE

Bescherming van vrijheid van meningsuiting, bevordering van een duurzame toekomst

Introductie

De boekensector is volop in ontwikkeling; de sector past zich aan om de snel veranderende wereld bij te kunnen houden. In het post-corona tijdperk hebben boekhandels bewezen veerkrachtig en relevant te zijn en toonden hun klanten zich loyaal. Veel boekwinkels investeerden in digitale technologieën en de groene economie – ze willen graag deel uitmaken van een duurzame toekomst.  

Maar er zijn nog steeds uitdagingen. De impact van boeken op het milieu bijvoorbeeld is onderwerp van discussie, zoals dit ook geldt voor producten als voedsel en kleding. We zien politiek extremisme en censuur toenemen, en onze vrijheid van meningsuiting bedreigen. Daarnaast constateren we dat de alfabetisering afneemt en dat minder jongeren kiezen voor een carrière in de boekensector.  

Boeken zijn cruciaal voor onze samenleving en maatschappij. Op elk niveau, van onderwijs tot arbeidskansen tot politiek. Wij zijn van mening dat boekwinkels veilige en inclusieve havens moeten zijn, voor iedereen. Boekhandels zijn essentieel, omdat ze de diversiteit bevorderen – met onze boeken laten we lezers verschillende stemmen horen. Boekhandels maken wezenlijk deel uit van het lokale leven en bieden een belangrijk alternatief voor de grote techbedrijven.  

Dat is waarom de Europese en Internationale Boekverkopers Federatie (EIBF) wil samenwerken met beleidsmakers en toezichthouders. Om ervoor te zorgen dat iedereen toegang heeft tot boeken, en dat niemand achter hoeft te blijven door de (grote) veranderingen in de wereld om ons heen.

OPSTAAN VOOR WAT
BELANGRIJK IS

Opstaan voor vrijheid van meningsuiting

Het is geen toeval dat boeken door de geschiedenis heen, in tijden van politieke onderdrukking en onrust, werden verbannen en beperkt. En dat auteurs, uitgevers en boekwinkels werden gecensureerd, moesten zwijgen en zelfs werden vernield. Nu extreme ideologieën in opkomst zijn in een groot deel van Europa en de wereld, zien we een soortgelijke toename van de censuur op boeken.

EIBF en onze gemeenschap van boekverkopers zijn van mening dat de vrijheid van meningsuiting een fundamenteel mensenrecht is en de hoeksteen van een gezonde democratie. We weten dat het lezen van boeken niet alleen leuk is, maar dat het ook de uitwisseling van kennis bevordert, leidt tot nieuwe ideeën en aanspoort tot kritisch denken. Daarom is die vrijheid van meningsuiting zo essentieel. De EIBF streeft ernaar het bewustzijn hierover te vergroten en anderen te informeren over het belang ervan. Boekverkopers spelen (ook) een wezenlijke rol in het beschermen van die vrijheid, en zij mogen – net als uitgevers, auteurs en bibliothecarissen – geen straf riskeren omdat ze opstaan voor wat zo belangrijk is.

ONZE OPROEP TOT ACTIE
Het handhaven van de vrijheid om ideeën, boeken en culturele materialen te kunnen uiten, publiceren en verspreiden, terwijl er krachtig wordt opgetreden tegen alle vormen van censuur.

Opstaan voor geletterdheid

Lezen brengt veel voordelen met zich mee, niet alleen voor individuele lezers maar voor de samenleving in zijn geheel. Boeken bieden natuurlijk kennis en educatie, maar ze brengen ook empathie en begrip voor anderen bij. Een geletterde bevolking speelt een actievere rol in de samenleving.  

De leesvaardigheid neemt echter wereldwijd – ook in Europa – af en de alfabetiseringsgraad daalt. Bekend is dat beperkte geletterdheid bij kinderen tot slechtere onderwijsresultaten leidt. Bovendien maakt laaggeletterdheid mensen in een samenleving kwetsbaarder. Om deze ontwikkeling te keren is het belangrijk dat we samenwerken.  

Boekwinkels en bibliotheken streven beide naar dezelfde doelen voor geletterdheid, leesbevordering en toegang tot boeken. En zij werken al lang samen om mensen aan het lezen te krijgen. Een geletterde samenleving ondersteunen betekent namelijk ook het stimuleren van een ontwikkelde, actieve en begripvolle gemeenschap.

ONZE OPROEP TOT ACTIE
Steun voor initiatieven die lezen bevorderen om goed geïnformeerd en democratisch deelnemen aan de samenleving te stimuleren.

HET NIEUWE OMARMEN

Digitale technologieën omarmen

Digitalisatie is doorgedrongen tot elk aspect van het dagelijks leven – en dat is geen slechte zaak. Het digitale en het fysieke sluiten elkaar niet uit, maar zijn even noodzakelijk en volledig complementair. Corona was een katalysator voor veel fysieke winkels, inclusief boekwinkels, om te investeren in e-commerce technologieën, sociale media, hybride evenementen en meer. Veel boekhandels hebben onderkend dat een goede balans tussen online en offline tot een lucratief bedrijfsmodel kan leiden.  

Technologie is zich echter in een steeds sneller tempo aan het ontwikkelen: de recente opkomst van kunstmatige intelligentie, TikTok boekinfluencers en het Wattpad verhalenplatform zijn nog maar enkele voorbeelden. Boekverkopers willen graag meegaan met die digitale tijden, maar daarvoor hebben ze wel de juiste hulpmiddelen nodig.  

Om eerlijke concurrentie te garanderen is een evenwichtig speelveld nodig: bestaande regels dienen gehandhaafd te worden, terwijl nieuwe regelgeving eerlijk en afgewogen moet zijn en tegelijk de belangen van kleine bedrijven moet beschermen. Ondertussen zijn data een heet hangijzer: bezit van, toegang tot en begrijpen van data zijn van belang om beter aan de eisen van lezers te kunnen voldoen. En om, nogmaals, op een evenwichtig speelveld te kunnen opereren. 

ONZE OPROEP TOT ACTIE
Digitale wetgeving die vooruitstrevend, innovatief en evenwichtig is en waarbij de bescherming van MKB’s centraal staat. 

De groene economie omarmen

De algemene focus op duurzaamheid is de afgelopen jaren met grote sprongen toegenomen. Iedereen heeft hier een rol in te spelen – ook de boekensector. Veel boekverkopers zijn al begonnen met hun eigen transitie naar de groene economie, maar sommige missen de kennis over waar ze moeten beginnen.  

De literaire waardeketen is een onderling verbonden ecosysteem – van uitgevers tot drukkers, distributie tot verkoop. Elke schakel in de keten moet samenwerken aan het gemeenschappelijke streven om het hele proces te verduurzamen. Boekverkopers hebben ondersteuning en begeleiding nodig bij het behalen van milieudoelstellingen, de transitie naar groene energie en het verkleinen van de voetafdruk van hun bedrijf. 

ONZE OPROEP TOT ACTIE
Groen beleid en initiatieven die boekverkopers begeleiden en ondersteunen bij hun milieutransitie. 

LANGETERMIJN LEVENSVATBAARHEID BEHOUDEN

Vrijheid van kleine bedrijven behouden

Boekhandels staan van alle kanten onder druk. Hoewel we wetgeving die de boekensector helpt verwelkomen, moeten aanvullende wetten die boekverkopers de komende jaren opgelegd kunnen krijgen zorgvuldig worden overwogen, om een schadelijk effect op een toch al kwetsbare sector te voorkomen. Regelgeving die gevolgen heeft voor de contractuele vrijheid, investeringskeuzes, activiteiten of financiële capaciteiten van boekwinkels mogen niet overhaast genomen worden. Als de regelgeving niet goed doordacht is bestaat namelijk het risico dat veel boekwinkels failliet gaan, doordat hen nog meer beperkingen worden opgelegd.  

Bijkomende administratieve rompslomp of extra lasten voor MKB’s maken het voor de grote online retailers uiteindelijk eenvoudiger om de sector te monopoliseren en eerlijke concurrentie te ondermijnen. We weten dat veel boekwinkels kleine, lokale bedrijven zijn die zich moeten ontwikkelen en dienen te investeren om aan de vraag in een snel veranderende markt te voldoen. Wij zijn dan ook van mening dat lokale winkeliers de vrijheid moeten hebben om hun eigen keuzes te maken of en wanneer zij hun producten en diensten beschikbaar stellen.

ONZE OPROEP TOT ACTIE
Het handhaven van de vrijheid van boekverkopers om hun eigen goedgeïnformeerde keuzes te maken, om de levensvatbaarheid van hun bedrijf voor lezers te garanderen – zowel nu als in de toekomst. 

Boekverkoper als carrière behouden

De recente inflatiestijging en toename van de kosten voor levensonderhoud zijn bij veel winkels hard aangekomen – ook bij de boekhandels. Veel boekverkopers melden dat ze moeite hebben om hun personeel fatsoenlijk te betalen en dat getalenteerde medewerkers vertrekken om lucratiever carrièremogelijkheden elders. De vaste lasten zijn enorm gestegen en ondertussen kopen mensen minder boeken vanwege de oplopende prijzen. Kortom: boekverkopen is zwaar werk.  

We willen de levensvatbaarheid van boekverkopen voor de volgende generatie garanderen als een aantrekkelijke, langetermijn carrière. Boekverkopers hebben een krachtig cultureel beleid nodig dat boeken, lezen en geletterdheid bevordert. We zijn daarom op zoek naar bezielde trainingen voor boekverkopers, naast initiatieven die onderwijs, toegang tot boeken en leesevenementen ondersteunen. Daarnaast streven we naar beleid dat de lokale aankoop van boeken ondersteunt – openbare aanbestedingen bijvoorbeeld, die het scholen en bibliotheken mogelijk maakt om hun boeken bij de plaatselijke boekhandels te kopen. Kortom: we hebben meer lezers nodig die erop uit gaan en boeken kopen, zodat boekenwinkels hogere inkomsten genereren en betere lonen kunnen betalen. 

ONZE OPROEP TOT ACTIE
Beleid en initiatieven die zowel grote bedrijven als een nieuwe generatie van boekverkopers en lezers erkennen, ondersteunen en erin investeren.  

Conclusie

Boekhandels zijn cruciale lokale bedrijven. In tegenstelling tot de technologiegiganten waarmee ze concurreren, horen de boekwinkels in onze winkelstraten: ze investeren in hun werknemers en lokale gemeenschappen, en ze leveren een belangrijke bijdrage aan de samenleving. Boekwinkels fungeren als cultureel centrum en toegankelijke plek, bieden een trefpunt voor de bewoners en stimuleren diversiteit en inclusie in hun buurt.  

Zonder overheidssubsidies te ontvangen bevorderen boekhandels lezen, geletterdheid en onderwijs – ze zijn dagelijks betrokken bij het creëren van de kennismaatschappij. Boekwinkels doen zo veel meer dan simpelweg boeken verkopen: ze zijn een integraal onderdeel van de veranderende wereld waarin we leven – en ze zullen blijven bijdragen aan die wereld, zo lang ze de steun krijgen die ze daarvoor nodig hebben. 
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