A report from the Italian Publishers Association names low readership as its ‘problem of problems’ and vows to address the country’s shrinking readership.
Industry Notes: MetaMetrics Announces an Upgrade to the Lexile Framework for Young Readers
‘To advance the science behind measuring text complexity,’ Lexile Framework has been enhanced, according to its parent company, MetaMetrics.
Russian Book Market Consolidation: Is It Closing Out Smaller Players?
Larger book publishing companies in Russia attract more government support, say critics, while smaller houses struggle to keep up.
Ahead of the Booker Shortlist: Canongate’s Jamie Byng
‘Lazy publishing,’ says Canongate’s Jamie Byng, ‘is just a disservice to what books can be.’ The publisher talks Man Booker, reading, and ‘Letters Live.’
Livres Hebdo’s Fabrice Piault on Politics and France’s Reading Culture
Ahead of France’s program as Guest of Honor at Frankfurt in October, a Parisian editor talks about how political distractions may be slowing book sales.
Bokova and Al Qasimi Certify Sharjah as UNESCO World Book Capital 2019
Calling for ‘a more open dialogue regionally and internationally,’ Bodour Al Qasimi accepts UNESCO’s designation of Sharjah as World Book Capital 2019.
Audience Engagement and Reading Promotion: Aldus’ New Report on European Book Fairs
From a city-wide book exchange in Latvia to a ‘New Writers Festival’ in Greece, Aldus surveys European book fairs’ approaches to promoting reading.
UNESCO Names the UAE’s Sharjah World Book Capital 2019
New recognition for efforts that Sharjah’s royal family and civic leadership have made, Sharjah follows Athens 2018 in the “World Book Capital” designation.
Sweden’s Dominant Akademibokhandeln Bookselling Chain Acquired by Volati
Even as an acquisition transfers financial control of Sweden’s Akademibokhandeln chain, reading-trend figures paint a concerning picture.
Industry Notes: International Rights at Diversion Books; Australian Teens Quizzed on Their Reading
An agency in Spain picks up New York’s Diversion Books foreign rights. An Australian study of teen reading finds conflicting input on digital vs. print.