ACCU, Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka Malaysia and UNESCO will organize the 2002 APPREB Experts Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in co-operation with Malaysia National Commission for UNESCO and Malaysian Publishers and Booksellers Association inviting 8 participants and 2 resource persons from 9 countries in Asia and the Pacific.

Background

The Asia/Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO (ACCU), Tokyo, has been the Regional Coordinating Agency of APPREB (Asia-Pacific Cooperative Programme for Reading Promotion and Book Development) since 1992, conducting and coordinating various programmes under APPREB in close co-operation with UNESCO. APPREB, the co-operative network established with the initiative of UNESCO in 1991, aims at assisting participating countries to develop their own needs-based programmes in a spirit of mutual co-operation at the regional, sub-regional and national levels. Since its inception, ACCU has been acting as its regional secretariat and has conducted various book promotion-related activities with the co-operation of organizations in the region.

APPREB is designed to facilitate: a) acquisition of lifelong reading habits for all; b) development of quality books including children's books and supplementary readers; c) strengthening of national capabilities, capacities and infrastructures; d) mobilization of resources, particularly human resources, by supporting training programmes for upgrading book promotion, production and distribution skills, and e) utilization of new media in reading promotion activities.

At a time of globalization and information communication technology, the importance of diversity in publishing and book development is further growing. It is indispensable that experts in the publishing sector come together to discuss ways to stimulate the flow of information and strengthen regional co-operation in order to help ensure a pleasant reading environment for the most needy.

Objectives

(1) To identify most vital problems related to book development and reading promotion in respective countries as well as to discuss and suggest practical ways to solve such problems.
(2) To suggest ways to strengthen the APPREB network and to promote inter-regional co-operations for effective utilization of its programmes.
(3) To evaluate APPREB programmes conducted in 1998-1999 and 2000-2001 especially the newly constructed APPREB internet website.
(4) To suggest regional and sub-regional plans in the fields of book development and reading promotion, especially utilization of the APPREB internet website.

Schedule

19 February (Tue.)

Item 1: Opening Ceremony
Item 2: Election of office bearers, adoption of agenda and schedule
Item 3: UNESCO Presentation
Item 4: ACCU Presentation
Item 5: Country Reports Sharing
Item 6: Resource Persons' Input
Item 7: The Role of APPREB in the age of Information Technology and possibilities of digital technology to be utilized in book development and reading

20 February (Wed.)

Item 8: Evaluation of APPREB Internet Website
Item 9: Future Plans in Utilizing Internet for APPREB and the role of Member States
- Improvement and further implementation of APPREB Internet Website
- Future publication of the printed version of ABD in relation to ABD on-line
- Roles and responsibilities of the Member States in maintaining and further implementing contents on the APPREB Internet Website
Item 10: Identification of needs and regional priorities in the area of book development and initiatives that could be undertaken on a regional basis
Item 11: Evaluation of ACP new title "Meet My Friends!" and working out draft ideas for its teachers' guide

21 February (Thurs.)

Item 12: Identification of APPREB objectives for 2002-2003
Item 13: Closing

Participants

China
Mr. Zhou Mingtao
President, Beijing Zhongke Hope Software Co., Ltd.
Deputy Director, Seminar of E-journal
Publishers Association of China

Fiji
Ms. Linda S. Crowl
Publications Fellow and Acting Director
Institute of the Pacific Studies
University of the South Pacific

India
Dr. Varsha Das
Chief Editor and Joint Director
National Book Trust, India

Indonesia
Ms. Kartini Nurdin
Secretary Board Member of Indonesian Publishers Association (IKAPI)
General Manager
Yayasan Obor Indonesia

Iran
Ms. Lili Hayeri Yazdi
Research Associate and Cultural Advisor
Institute of the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults

Malaysia
Mr.Kow Chin Chuan
Secretary, Malaysian Book Publishers Association

Malaysia
Mr. Hamdan Yahya
Director, Literature Department
Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka Malaysia

Thailand
Ms. Porn-Anong Niyomka Horikawa
Vice-President for International Affairs
Book Publishers and Booksellers Association of Thailand

Resource person
Mr. Kenji Muro
Editor-in-Chief
On-line Journal The Book & The Computer
Japan/USA

Resource person
Mr. Graham Perkins
Creative Markets Manager
Apple - South Asia
Singapore

UNESCO
Ms. Beatrice Kaldun
Culture Programme Officer
UNESCO Bangkok

ACCU

Report

2002 APPREB Experts Meeting in Kuala Lumpur Make Proposals for Future Development of APPREB

Book development experts from nine countries gathered in Kuala Lumpur in February to evaluate and discuss APPREB programmes and make proposals for its future plans and priorities, especially further utilization of the APPREB Internet website. Organized jointly by Asia/Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO, Dewan Bahasa dan Puskata Malaysia and UNESCO, the 2002 APPREB Experts Meeting for Consultation on the APPREB Internet Website was held from 19 to 21 February 2002 in Kuala Lumpur in co-operation with Malaysia Book Publishers Association and Malaysia National Commission for UNESCO. At this time of globalization and information communication technology, it is becoming increasingly important to promote publishing and book development in a region with such a wealth of linguistic diversity. It is imperative that experts in the publishing sector come together to discuss ways to stimulate the flow of information and strengthen regional co-operation in order to help ensure a pleasant reading environment for the most needy, especially in their mother tongues. The 2002 meeting aimed to 1) evaluate past APPREB activities, 2) discuss needs and priorities, 3) examine possibilities of utilizing today's advanced technology in reading promotion, 4) suggest ways to strengthen APPREB Network, and 5) suggest action plans for the next biennium.

Ms. Beatrice Kaldun of UNESCO Bangkok delivered a speech on behalf of Ms. Milagros del Corral, Director, Division of Arts and Cultural Enterprise, UNESCO, and assured UNESCO's continued support to APPREB in the next biennium. The sessions on the first day included review of the activities under APPREB, country report sharing, followed by discussion on APPREB in the era of information technology. This session started with lectures by two resource persons, Mr. Kenji Muro and Mr. Graham Perkins, who introduced some of the latest technology that could be utilized in promoting book development. The Print-on-Demand technology for instance, could become a major printing tool now that the cost has been greatly reduced, enabling small numbers of print-runs in rural areas or in minor languages at a reasonable cost with a printing machine no bigger than a copier with a binding machine attached.

On the second day, the participants had an active discussion on evaluation of the present APPREB website. Practical suggestions to improve the site, making it more attractive and readable, as well as enriching its contents and ways to promote it to a wider audience were proposed. The participants unanimously agreed to assist ACCU in its regular update and promote the site on returning to their countries. Other sessions included a discussion on utilization of both print and on-line versions of ABD and how to make them complement each other, and evaluation of the newly published ACP title, Meet My Friends! .

Upon conclusion, the Meeting brought out recommendations to concerned organizations and proposed a list of practical action plans to be implemented in the 2002-2003 biennium based on each country's needs. The participants assured their eager co-operation in the programme including sharing of information through the network established at the meeting, and funding on their side, which is highly encouraging to the UNESCO and APPREB secretariat. ACCU will further support future programmes, assist realization of proposed action plans and strengthen ties and co-operation with related offices and organizations. Also, the meeting agreed that programmes in the next biennium should have the co-operation and participation of countries that could not participate in this Meeting. ACCU hope the findings will be effectively actualized in the next biennium with the strong co-operation of UNESCO and the Member States in the region.

Recommendations

The participants were invited to discuss and adopt the recommendations they proposed on the previous day. Out of 9 recommendations made to UNESCO, the first five were unanimously agreed upon. The wordings of the last four were discussed and finalised.
The recommendations are as follows:

UNESCO should:

1. increase funds in order to fully support APPREB's activities, especially at the regional and sub-regional levels.
2. assist Member States in establishing a national book policy.
3. assist Member States in promoting understanding of copyright.
4. support APPREB awareness programme on how to increase networking organised at regional and sub-regional level.
5. provide financial support to Member States in book development and reading promotion activities.
6. strengthen the role of UNESCO regional offices in the Asia/Pacific region to effectively promote book development programmes.
7. strengthen the role of Bangkok office to support and assist Member States in training, networking and information sharing.
8. support the production of promotional materials for reading programmes under APPREB.
9. support publication of Best Books for Children from the countries in Asia and the Pacific Region.

ACCU should:

1. conduct more training courses at the regional and sub-regional levels and provide regional and international experts.
2. fund the participation of experts in books and IT in sub-regional workshop on national book policy.
3. continue publishing ABD in printed form as well as on-line version.
4. strengthen communication network using IT.
5. participate in book fairs organised by Member States.
6. encourage the participation of the private sector and NGOs in the Member States in APPREB activities.
7. assist in organising study tour programmes in book publishing and reading promotion activities.
8. promote and encourage on-line cooperation in the region through the APPREB Website.
9. recommend the resource persons who attended APPREB 2002 Experts Meeting to cooperate in strengthening utilization of APPREB Website based on local needs.
10. pay high priority to supporting countries that urgently need training for book personnel.

As for the recommendations to Member States, there were 8 recommendations made. The wordings of the first five remained unchanged. The last three were discussed and slightly amended. The final list is as follows:

Member States should:

1. push UNESCO for financial assistance to carry out APPREB activities.
2. set up a national agency for APPREB in each country to strengthen national level network and to coordinate activities.
3. participate actively in APPREB reading promotion and book development activities.
4. fully utilize APPREB website for the sharing of information especially in book promotion in rural areas.
5. consider developing or strengthening national book policies to ensure that books and reading are included in a strategy to promote cultural development.
6. agree to pursue national book policies through governments in cooperation with all aspects of the book chain - private sector, NGOs, GOs and computer companies.
7. produce "who's who" on book experts in various fields such as story writing (especially for children), publishing, distribution, marketing, library, storytelling, etc.
8. provide information on time to APPREB Internet Website.

Proposed Programmes

The proposed programmes for APPREB 2002-2003 biennium were agreed as follows, the ones to be given priority are underlined.

Networking

Utilizing the web

• Regular update, improvement and addition of pages in the APPREB website in accordance with the discussion at the meeting.
• Workshop on utilising the web to deliver content.
  (This covers aspects of how individuals create content for the web, how text and words should be delivered on the web. And also how to effectively utilize the web for document delivery).
• Meeting-cum-workshop to utilize the APPREB website for effective production and dissemination of ACP Materials on-line.
• Introduce in APPREB website, a list of titles for children selected by each country whose rights for translation are available. Utilizing printed media.

• Publication of ABD

Training of Book Experts

Reading promotion

• Regional training course for people in the field of reading promotion in Thailad. The course will include topics such as;
  
  
  1. How to bring books and children together.
  2. Storytelling techniques.
  3. How to manage a lively library for children.
  4. How librarians and teachers can persuade parents to read books to children.
  
  
• Workshop on storytelling in Thailand.
  (A workshop that explores various ways to tell a story. This should include the need to understand presentation skills utilising images and even movies to accompany the spoken and printed word).

• Regional training course for personnel on writing stories for children,children's book illustration, editing children's books in Thailand to include Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar and Vietnam.
• Sub-regional workshop to develop a master version on the theme of cultural heritage for children in India.
• Regional workshop on developing a master version on the theme of "Unity in Cultural Diversity" for children in India.

• Training course on how to produce historic stories for children in CD-ROM in China.
• Workshops or seminars on information technology application for schools in China.
• Workshop on Interactive Books: The Web & CD ROM in Iran.
  (A potential workshop covering the aspect of interactive books and how they are produced. This workshop should be disigned to inform existing publishers as to how they can develop their skills and businesses).

• Training course on marketing in Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia and Thailand
• Workshop on how to sell your content through design in China, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia and Thailand.
  (This workshop would explore the importance of design and how good design can differentiate your publishing content)

Legal Framework

National Book Policy

• Sub-regional Training Workshop on National Book Policy, emphasizing the interactivity of books and IT to promote literacy, to promote reading, to promote increasing knowledge, to promote application of knowledge to work in the Pacific Islands and Iran.