Balai Pustaka upbeat about future book sales

Balai Pustaka upbeat about future book sales

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's oldest publisher, Balai Pustaka,
affirmed that its future book sales would not be overly
threatened by electronic media such as CD-ROMs and other
multimedia technology, as books were still more practical for
most people.

"Books and multimedia are not in competition. People will
still need books in the multimedia age," said Balai Pustaka
president director Wahyudi Ruwiyanto.

At the opening ceremony of a book exhibition and sale, Wahyudi
said here yesterday that books and multimedia equipment had
distinct characteristics that complement each other.

Yesterday's event was held prior to the official celebration
of Balai Pustaka's 80th anniversary on Monday.

Established on Sept. 22, 1917, the beginning of Balai Pustaka
is often thought synonymous with the birth of Indonesian
literature.

Its publications range from textbooks to practical guides and
magazines in Malay, Latin, Arabic and Indonesian tribal
languages.

In 1920, Balai Pustaka started publishing Indonesian
literature which produced some of the nation's literary greats
such as Amir Hamzah, Sutan Takdir Alisyahbana, Nur Sutan
Iskandar, Usmar Ismail and Mohammad Yamin.

The company has survived while readership of literary works
has declined. While still a source of literary works, Balai
Pustaka now prevails through the sale of general knowledge,
popular and school books.

In 1996 it became a limited liability company and turned
toward a more profit-oriented endeavor.

Assistant director Thantowi Djauhary said the company's annual
income from printing books alone could reach Rp 8 billion (US$
2.75 million). He did not say the amount earned through book
sales.

Wahyudi said a success of the company was combining luxurious
and interesting presentations without sacrificing the substantial
content of books or even veering from their social and
educational mission.

He said that the Balai Pustaka publishing company also
cooperates with other institutions to publish literary magazines.

"But the turnover for the literature is very low," said Balai
Pustaka production director Nafron Hasjim.

"People nowadays have a lower appreciation of literature,"
Nafron lamented, adding that people would rather read popular
novels or light-reading magazines. (09)