Following the adoption of the new Hong Kong Security Law on March 19, the European & International Booksellers Federation and the International Publishers Association expressed concerns about the limits this law will create on the freedom to publish and on bookselling in Hong Kong. At issue are the bill's sweeping provisions and broad definitions. The Guardian recently reported that the impact of the new law on publishers and booksellers has been immediate.
"The steady deterioration of the freedom of expression in Hong Kong is alarming and disheartening," said EIBF co-president Jean-Luc Treutenaere. "The book publishing and bookselling communities are under threat by repressive security laws, which are resulting in vibrant and beloved bookshops shutting down. Any closure, and particularly in current times, is a massive loss to the book world."
Kristenn Einarsson, chair of the IPA's Freedom to Publish committee, commented: "The last 10 years have seen publishing and bookselling in Hong Kong decimated. From intimidation to restrictive security laws we must recognize the tools of censorship and resist them."
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Sweden is encouraging readers to read aloud during this year's World Book Week (April 20-28) to stimulate and develop children's reading skills, EIBF's Newsflash reported.
The Swedish Booksellers Association (Svenska Bokhandlareföreningen) provided booksellers around the country with resources, including a booklet containing tips on how to integrate "read-aloud' sessions into children's routines, along with recommendations for excellent books that can be read to kids. The booklet was developed through a collaboration with 11 children's book publishers.
Maria Hamrefors, chair of the Swedish Booksellers Association, said that reading aloud is especially beneficial for the development of children's reading skills given that they are exposed to books that could typically be too difficult for them to read on their own.
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| Fiona Stager | |
Fiona Stager, co-owner of Avid Reader and Where the Wild Things Are bookshops in Brisbane, is this year's recipient of the Lloyd O'Neil Award, recognizing outstanding service to the Australian book industry. The lifetime achievement honor was recently announced, along with shortlists for the Australian Booksellers Industry Awards, which will be presented May 9 at a ceremony in Melbourne.
"Fiona Stager's dedication to fostering a vibrant literary community in Brisbane is truly remarkable," the ABIA noted. "Through bookstores Avid Reader and Where the Wild Things Are, she has not only provided a platform for local and emerging writers--she has cultivated a space where readers can explore a diverse range of literature, from classics to contemporary works. Fiona has made immense contributions to the Australian literary scene, and her efforts continue to shape and enrich the cultural landscape of the country."
Stager commented: "I was so surprised and overwhelmed when I was told I was this year's recipient of the Lloyd O'Neil Award I cried! The previous recipients are people who have inspired me with their writing, or their publishing careers or bookselling acumen. I love this industry, and to be awarded the Lloyd O'Neil Award means the world to me." --Robert Gray