Book fair aims to promote reading habits

JAKARTA (JP): Children and parents flocked to book stalls at the National Monument Park in Central Jakarta to buy cheap books offered by 60 publishers at a two-day book bargain event, which ended Sunday.

Parents and students over the weekend were seen carrying bundles of plastic bags filled with bargain-priced books. Children had an easy time persuading parents to buy books they were interested in, regardless of the hot sun beating down on them.

The event was organized by the Indonesian Publishers Association (Ikapi) in conjunction with the association's 47th anniversary.

Upi Sulandari, chairperson of the event's organizing committee, said the sales of books, discounted by between 25 and 80 percent, were expected to help improve children's reading habits.

"Children from low-income families can benefit from this event because books sold here are very cheap," Upi said.

Bakri Junus, head of Ikapi's Jakarta branch, said that he expected the public would take advantage of the event, because book sales with substantial discounts were rarely held by publishers.

PT Gramedia, the country's largest book publisher, for example, sold the Indonesian translation of Jackie Collins' Hollywood Wives for only Rp 1,000 (40 U.S. cents) and Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind for Rp 2,000.

PT Erlangga sold The Kennedy Dynasty for Rp 5,600, compared to the ordinary price of Rp 11,200, while PT Intan Prawira sold children's coloring books for Rp 300.

"Almost all of these books are old publications and publishers prefer to get rid of them instead of storing them at warehouses," Bakri said.

Bakri also encouraged authors to write cheaper books for children on Indonesian culture, tradition and development. Such books were badly needed since existing translations, comics and other publications on sale at book stores were not affordable for children, especially those living in small towns, he said.

"Publishers should not only fill the demand of children living in big cities, but also the need for cheaper books that personify the entire existing culture of Indonesia," Bakri said.

He also said the publication of cheaper books was important because the majority of the public still viewed books as luxurious items. (10)