More books are published, but readers become fewer

Moldova experiences a paradoxical phenomenon – the number of readers diminishes at a time when the number of published books increases. This paradox can be dealt with including through the support that the state must provide for publishing books. The problems encountered in this field were discussed in the opening of the first Book Fair at “Moldexpo” on Thursday, Info-Prim Neo reports. Acting President Marian Lupu said the process of publishing books must be facilitated and supported by the authorities so that more people have access to literature, Info-Prim Neo reports. “The state must provide subsidies, concessions or use other methods to support the publication of books,” said Marian Lupu. He also said that not every Moldovan can afford to buy books when they are expensive. “I spoke with Arcadie Suceveanu, chairman of the Writers Union, and asked that the Union’s members, together with the editors, put forward proposals for modifying the legislation regulating the production of books so as to facilitate the publication and distribution process and find solutions to reduce the price of books,” said the Acting President. In this connection, Arcadie Suceveanu said the number of printed books increases, but the number of readers decreases and this is a paradox. “This is because of the culture and reading crisis. We lose the readers mainly because of the low purchasing capacity of the Moldovans,” he stated. According to Arcadie Suceveanu, the competition faced by the classical books from the Internet, mobile phones and television is also a problem. “The ‘glass book’ undermines the paper book. But the painting did not disappear when the photograph appeared and I think the ‘glass book’ will not be able to replace the ordinary book,” said the writer.