Efforts to bring books to readers

(QNO) - The current book publishing situation is facing many difficulties in distribution, competition between paper books and online books, between real books and fake books. This has quite an impact on publishing activities, however, the publishing industry still has prospects when insiders and industry levels make efforts to bring books to readers...

Currently, the country has 57 publishing houses under 53 governing agencies and about 150 private book companies.

In 2023, the total number of publications deposited was more than 536 million copies (down 10.5%); of which printed publications reached nearly 461 million copies (down 14.6%); electronic publications were about 36 million copies (up 11%).

Total revenue of the publishing industry reached over VND4,105 billion (up 4.98%), after-tax profit reached over VND450 billion (up 8.4%). The industry's total revenue increased slightly but book titles and book editions - important indicators of the industry - decreased. Of the revenue of over VND4,105 billion of the publishing industry, the revenue of Vietnam Education Publishing House (from textbooks and reference books accompanying textbooks) accounted for VND2,654 billion.

Ms. Hoa Phuong shares stories about book publishing at Tam Ky Library.

Ms. Khuc Thi Hoa Phuong said that the publishing industry has not really recovered after the COVID-19 pandemic. In the general difficulties of the world economy and the Vietnamese economy, it is forecasted that the publishing industry will still not have a sudden growth in 2024.

Currently, the rate of online publishing (ebooks, audio books) in the world is about 50-50. In Vietnam, there are 4,600 e-books (ebooks/audio books, etc.), accounting for 15.3% of the total number of publications. The rate of audio book consumption is higher than that of ebooks. However, the revenue from e-books is still not high.

Readers have many choices between reading paper books and electronic books. Photo: CNBC

According to Ms. Hoa Phuong, bookstores that operate directly are facing difficulties because profits are not high but rental prices are increasing. Meanwhile, book sales through e-commerce channels and through KOLs (people who have influence on the community)/social networks are increasing. This forces the publishing industry to adapt to digital transformation and modernize distribution channels. However, the publishing industry is facing difficulties in digital transformation because of limited resources.

As for the problem of pirated books, it appears in both environments: pirated printed books and on the internet. Currently, many publishing houses and book companies have pirated books, but it is very difficult to detect and handle them. Not only do pirated books affect the revenue and profits of publishing houses, pirated books also make readers lose trust and affect the reputation of publishing houses and book companies. To solve this problem, there needs to be the involvement of multiple functional sectors.

Students read digital books and practice being librarians in the digital library.

Those working in publishing hope that books in particular and the publishing industry in general will have more opportunities to develop more strongly in the coming time with the promulgation of many policies to encourage people to read books. These are the Government's decision to organize Vietnam Book and Reading Culture Day, plans to digitally transform the publishing and library industries; the direction of the government and the Ministry of Education and Training on organizing Book and Reading Culture Day, including books in the curriculum by arranging reading hours/reading periods with many creative ways; the awareness of the people and the community about the role of books in life, ... and especially the publishing industry has a development strategy towards modernization, making efforts to catch up with the world's publishing situation.

Students read books in the school library.

Every year, Quang Nam Library adds more than 172 thousand books; 140 types of newspapers and magazines every quarter. Every year, the Provincial Library issues and renews an average of 270 reader cards, serving about 30,500 readers, and circulating 106 books and newspapers. Quang Nam Library always focuses on innovating its activities, and has many new ways to attract a large number of readers of all ages to participate, such as: organizing book and newspaper promotion contests; writing and drawing contests on topics and content in books.

Students read books at the Community Digital Library.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh said that, in general, with the attention and direction of the political system and the needs of society, reading culture is increasingly focused on and spread more widely in every family, school and society. This has a positive impact on publishing activities. Therefore, the publishing industry in general, including publishing and distribution, has changed in thinking and action to adapt to changes and meet social needs. Along with investing in exploiting high-quality domestic and foreign manuscripts, meeting readers' tastes..., it can be mentioned that there is a digital transformation in the publishing sector, with e-publishing increasing in quantity and quality of publishers and number of books. Besides, there is the introduction of short books, concise books, summaries...