The value of handwritten letters
A recent study done by the University of Texas at Arlington shows that “exchanging handwritten letters strengthens children’s literacy skills and family ties.”
Read more about the study on Phys.org
Book vending machine
If you’re in Germany and want to get rid of an unwanted gift, publisher Bastei Lübbe and bookseller Hugendubel can help. This duo set up book vending machines where you can give away an unwanted Christmas gift in exchange for a brand new book.
Read more on Publishing Perspectives.
The Corner Bookshop
The Corner Bookshop has been in business since 2007. We spoke to Rizana Gani about this Johannesburg bookshop. Read more
Books & Books
Books & Books has been in business since April 2006. We spoke to Janine O’Connor about this special Durban bookstore. Read more
Global Kids Connect Conference
The Global Kids Connect conference, organized by Publishers Weekly and the Bologna Children’s Book Fair and held December 2 in New York City, offered a wide-ranging look at the impact of digital media, physical books, trends, and the future of reading in a global children’s and young adult book market – Calvin Reid. Read more on Publishers Weekly.
SA’s first Story Bosso announced
Seven-year-old Athandiwe Sikade of Khayelitsha in Cape Town has been announced the winner of Nal’ibali’s storytelling competition, Story Bosso. The competition, designed as a nationwide talent search to get people of all ages excited about reading and telling stories, invited members of the public to send in audio or video clips of themselves reading or telling their favourite stories. Read more here.
Innovation – A bare necessity
Business model innovation is a topic that most businesses and industries have been grappling with since the rise and growth of all things digital – e-commerce platforms, mobile consumption, or social engagement to name just a few. In its most basic form, business model innovation is the development of new, unique products and services to support and grow an organisation’s financial viability and the steps or processes necessary to deliver on these products and services for sustainable future growth.
Eastern Cape Book Festival
From as little as 30 attendees and almost no funds in 2014, the Eastern Cape Book Festival (ECBF) has grown to 200 literary-hungry attendees in 2015 with the promise of big things still to come. We spoke to Selome Payne, festival co curator and owner of Poetree Publications about what the buzz is all about and what the future holds.
National Book Week 2015
National Book Week (NBW) was launched in 2010 and started as a joint initiative between The South African Book Development Council (SABDC) and The Department of Arts and Culture (DAC).
Open Book Festival 2015
The Open Book Festival (OBF) ran from 9 to 13 September and attracted just over 9 800 people and 166 participants to the core programme. There was a strong international presence this year, with 26 participants from all over the world, including the UK, USA, Ukraine, Norway, Denmark, Holland, Sweden, China, Nigeria, France, Switzerland, Zimbabwe and Zambia. Festival goers experienced true Cape Town weather with a day from every season, but come heat, rain or wind, the OBF was set to be a success. Read more
