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)