Book Fair 2004 from February 25 to March 5
By Maya Salleh

A press conference on the upcoming Book Fair 2004 was held yesterday at the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, Old Airport. It was attended by officials from the Dewan Bahasa as well as media personnel and chaired by Hj. Abu Bakar Hj. Zainal, the Acting Director of Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.

The Book Fair 2004 is being organised in conjunction with the country's 20th National Day by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports.

It is scheduled to run from February 25 until March 5, from 8.30 am to 10 pm except on Friday when it will be open from 8.30 am to 11.30 am and from 2.30 pm until 10 pm. The event will be held at the Indoor Stadium Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Sport Complex, Berakas.

The objective of the Book Fair, besides to introduce and sell books, is to create an opportunity for meetings and interactions among suppliers, publishers, librarians, book advocates and the general public under one roof in order to enhance everyone's appreciation for books and to provide opportunities for the public to find a variety of book titles for their references at a more convenient place.

In addition, it is held to foster ties, cooperation, business contacts and negotiation in planning strategies to expand the book publishing industry at regional as well as global levels.

It is also held to facilitate the transportation of books and IT including other educational tools, and, finally to encourage the reading culture and to enhance as well as stimulate the minds through reading and participation in various activities to be held at the Book Fair.

The exhibition categories will include publications on art, children's books, religion, maps, travel guides, science and technology, academic, fictions, non-fictions, text books, CD-ROMS, to name a few. Magazines, computers paraphernalia, IT publications will also be exhibited.

A total of 70 booths and tables, chairs and signboards and other facilities such as a cyber café as well as meeting room for business contact between vendors and suppliers have been prepared for the event.

More than 50 booths have been rented by both local and foreign exhibitors. Five foreign exhibitors from Jordan, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia are expected to participate in the Book Fair 2004.

Other activities have been planned for the event such as cultural performance, quiz, forums, lectures, jawi reading and writing competition and drawing and colouring competition. "The Most Beautiful Booth" award will also be presented.

Some of the books displayed will be sold at reduced prices. For Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka books, visitors can enjoy up to 70% discount, whereas visitors can enjoy discounts of between 10% and 30% from other vendors.

The Book Fair 2004 will be officially opened on February 25th by the Guest of Honour, the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, who will also launch a few new publications by the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka during the ceremony.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin