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Following the
completion of a survey on the state of publishing in Cambodia today, the Center
for Khmer Studies, Reyum Institute of Arts and Culture, and the Toyota
Foundation organized a two day workshop followed by a public conference. At the
workshop, a small group of experts and participants working in various areas of
the book sector met to discuss the survey report and try to formulate specific
recommendations to improve the state of publishing in Cambodia. The conference
presented these recommendations as well as the more general observations and
problems raised by workshop participants. Below we summarize the main
recommendations which came out of the workshop and conference.
A Book Sector Association
Establish a sector-wide Association which can lobby for the interests of the
entire book sector (including newspapers, magazines and journals). This
Association aims to include writers, editors, designers, publishers, printers,
distributors, sellers, librarians, and other interested private and professional
participants. Those who participated in the Workshop and Conference are
particularly central to the establishment of this Association and it is hoped
that they will take the initiative to establish a working group which will
define the scope of the Association and formally establish it.
Develop a national information policy
Formulate and implement a national information policy which aims to provide
access to information for all. This national policy will formally recognize and
encourage the spread of the complete range of knowledge resources (books,
newspapers, magazines and resources based on information and communications
technology) throughout the country as a crucial component of national
development.
Introduce standards and norms
Introduce international standards such as ISBN, ISSN, copyright, national
bibliography, legal deposit, and Unicode into the sector and encourage the
implementation and enforcement of a legal framework of laws such as copyright
and intellectual property right (while recognizing the particular local needs
and conditions into which such international forms will be inserted). An
essential component of implementation is training workshops and informational
programs explaining why the use of such international standards will help all
aspects of the book sector. In addition, develop resources such as style
manuals, model contracts, and glossaries of publishing and library terminology
in order to develop more coherent and professional practices within the book
sector. Full use should be made of existing international standards, resources
and assistance.
Lower the price of book production
Investigate ways to lower the price of book production including tax concessions
and exemptions on imported materials essential to the publishing industry
(paper, inks, printing machines, etc); collective bulk buying of materials;
cooperative storage facilities; exploring the possibilities of domestic
production of printing supplies; government and private subsidies of printing
costs, etc. It is expected that the Book Sector Association described above
would lobby for and organize such initiatives.
Establish an effective national distribution network
Investigate models for effective national book distribution and implement a
system which can bring books to much greater areas of the countryside than at
present. A wider distribution network is essential for providing information to
all and developing a nation wide reading public which will in turn lead to a
larger demand for books. This distribution network would aim to satisfy both
commercial needs of the book trade while at the same time assisting in the
dissemination of basic literacy, educational, and informational materials needed
by the population as a whole.
Training and professional development
Establish a wide range of institutionally based training programs for those
already working in the book sector including writers, translators, script
writers, editors, pre-press and graphic designers, printers, book distributors
and book sellers, and librarians. Such training must be coordinated and coherent
in order to address the long term needs of the development of the national book
sector. Particular professions in the book sector should be introduced into the
curriculums of Universities and vocational institutions in order to develop the
next generation of book sector professionals.
Develop a culture of literacy
Support the aims of Education for All through regular mass literacy campaigns as
well as post-literacy activities. Teach creative and other forms of writing at
all educational levels as well as including reading assignments in curriculums
at all levels.
Provide appropriate reading materials in Khmer
Generate more new books in Khmer language as well as republishing existing out
of print Khmer language materials. Develop a coordinated policy for the
translation of information into Khmer. Use all forms of print and electronic
media to make Khmer language materials available to the general public. Study
the daily life and needs of the population in order to develop new reading
material appropriate and useful to all sectors of the public.
Promote books and reading
Encourage reading and book acquisition through radio reading programs,
television programs on books and authors, mass media campaigns on the importance
of reading, book fairs, quiz shows, etc.
Develop libraries nationwide
Formulate a national library development plan aimed at increasing the number of
libraries and providing adequate collections of books for them. Support the
National Library of Cambodia to promote this nation-wide effort. Stimulate all
types of libraries including mobile libraries of all sorts, community learning
centers, reading rooms, and school libraries that are open to the public. Expand
operating hours of libraries so that they can be used during the middle of the
day, in the evenings and on weekends. Raise public awareness of libraries and
the resources which they offer.
All of these recommendations will require the active involvement and
collaboration of all actors in the book sector including the government,
non-governmental organizations, for profit businesses, not-for-profit
initiatives, domestic and international individuals, agencies and organizations.
It is hoped that the Association will be representative of all these actors and
will begin the work necessary to implement the recommendations listed above.
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