South African Book Fair
Join us for this year’s South African Book Fair in Johannesburg from 31 July to 2 August. Download the full programme here.
Tech trends 2015
At its annual Spring conference in the US, the STM Association launched its newest version of the Technology Trends for 2015, a series of three infographics which are very interesting to all players in the global book market.
Read more
Top 10 South African Afrikaans Authors Publishing in Amazon
Amazon currently has an Afrikaans section spanning over 3000 titles. David Henderson takes a look at which Afrikaans authors had a presence on the world’s largest eBook store, how they are selling and what they are doing right (or wrong).
Read his article here.
South African Book Fair
The SA Book Fair 2015 is less than one month away and preparations are well underway for a new and improved fair. After nine years in Cape Town, the fair will take place in Johannesburg for the first time from 31 July to 2 August.
A look at recent literary events
The past six months have been filled with festivals and fairs all promoting and celebrating the literary industry. In general it seems like interest in these festivals are growing by the day, with more and more events every year. Here is an update on what’s been happening in 2015 so far.
Digital Technologies Summit
The Digital Technologies Summit took place on the 18th and 19th of March 2015, at the National Library of South Africa, Pretoria. Clearly, an event that addresses digital technologies and the technology-enabled future of the book industry in South Africa was long overdue. A number of industry and value-chain related challenges and opportunities exist for all role-players in the book sector when faced with digital technologies. In most instances, all are in agreement that digital technologies, although challenging to implement, bring far greater opportunities and solutions than problems and concerns. Nicolene Finlayson reports on the event.
Literary Festivals
Much has changed over the past 66 years since the first literary festival, the Times Cheltenham Literature Festival was launched in 1949. While festival-goers at most of these festivals can now also enjoy some good food, join in discussions and meet their favourite authors, it is important to have a look at the real purpose and value of these events.
SABC Education African EduWeek
SABC Education African EduWeek is widely regarded as the premier education event on the African continent. Now entering its 9th year, African EduWeek 2015, is taking place at the Gallagher Convention Center in Midrand on the 1st and 2nd July will showcase over 120 international exhibitors, host free-to-attend education seminars, offer a new high-level technology conference E-Tech Africa, as well as technical workshops designed to enhance teacher training and development. Get more details here.
National Digital E-Book / E-Content Strategy
The Department of Basic Education (DBE) Inputs and Contribution to a National Digital E-Book / E-Content Strategy, released in February this year, has been under discussion in many arenas as the local publishing and bookselling industry tries to understand how it will affect them in future business dealings with the department. Jessica Faircliff discusses the strategy in detail.
The Book Flood Campaign
The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has initiated the Book Flood Campaign whereby all provinces are expected to organise their own related events in order to collect books from all stakeholders for learners that do not have access to libraries. We have a look at KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape’s campaigns.
