More than 200 publishing houses from Moldova and abroad will take part in the 18th edition of the International Book Fair that will be held at the National Library in Chisinau between August 31 and September 3. This year’s edition is dedicated to the late poet Grigore Vieru, the head of the National Library’s Cultural Programs Service Raisa Melnic has told Info-Prim Neo. The main attraction this year will be an exhibition titled “Secret that Protects Me” that will be opened simultaneously with the book fair, Raisa Melnic said. There will be also unveiled the bust of the poet made by sculptor Ion Bolocan. Books by Grigore Vieru and about the poet will be presented at several publishing houses in Romania. Composer Constantin Rusnac will organize a musical salon themed “Grigore Vieru and Music”. Traditionally, the program of the book fair includes the exhibition that sums up all the editorial products issued the last year, recent book launches, conferences, discussions, meetings with the readers, bibliographies, exhibits of paintings, photographs and graphic works for books. There will be presented the most read books of 2008. The meeting of the Moldova Athenaeum and the Arts Show will center on interesting subjects concerning the history and value of the book. The accomplishments of national writers and editors will be presented at the laureate gala on the last day. “There will be awarded prizes of 35,000 lei for the best books,” Raisa Melnic said. Most of the exhibited books will be for adults, but several publishing houses will present books for children as well. Publishing houses from Moldova, Romania, Ukraine, Finland, China, the U.S., Germany and other countries will display their products. Hungary will participate in the fair for the first time. The event is organized by the National Library and the Information Bureau of the Council of Europe in Moldova.