English

As the independence of publishing is increasingly discussed, we have decided to bring into debate a possible definition of the “independent creation publisher”. This tool, in the shape of a series of questions, would allow to assess the strengths and weaknesses of a publisher in terms of independence.

Read: The seventh issue of Bibliodiversity, the newsletter of the Alliance of independent publishers, has just come out!

We got some very bad news from Burkina Faso in the month of December: Joseph Ki-Zerbo (photo below), an eminent African historian, political activist, promoter of independence movements, and reputable author, passed away. Upon hearing the news, Marie-Agathe Amoikon Fauquembergue of Eburnie publications (Ivory Coast) responded: “À baobab has left us!”.

We would like to salute the man, author, and thinker Ki-Zerbo was. We remember the international co-publication of his last work, which he entrusted to Alliance members: “À quand l’Afrique?” (“When’s the time for Africa?”) has become a reference, the winner of the “World Citizen award” (prix RFI Citoyen du Monde), a commercial success, and is now translated into Portuguese by 4 members of our network. We would like to send our sincere condolences to his family and friends.

What is an independent publisher? What is a “creative publisher”? Can a large group be an independent publisher? How can a publisher, in the context of concentration and financial constraints, stay independent in daily life, while maintaining its activist role?
Such are the questions that Gilles Colleu confronts in his work Independent Publishers: moving from the age of reason on to the attack? (“Éditeurs indépendants: de l’âge de raison vers l’offensive?”). Far from any caricature, Gilles uses sound and engaging reasoning based on a “certain idea” of publishing to show us some characteristics that make the creative independent publisher a major actor, and a natural defender, of book diversity.

“Independent Publishers: moving from the age of reason on to the attack?”

Alliance of Independent Publishers

Collection “État des lieux de l’édition” (“Reports on the publishing world”)

160 pages, 10 € in France

ISBN 13: 978-2-9519747-2-2

Recycled paper

Find all the information on the collection “État des lieux de l’édition”) here.

The Alliance of the independent publishers has just set up on its site the syndication by RSS. RSS enable you to receive on your computer the last information put on line by the Alliance of the independent publishers.

To subscribe you with wire RSS of Alliance, you just have to to copy/cut the address below in your RSS reader

http://www.alliance-editeurs.org/spip.php?page=backend

Read: The sixth issue of Bibliodiversity, the newsletter of the Alliance of independent publishers, has just come out!

In Brazil, the “Springtime of books”, an event organized
by the LIBRE organization (a Brazilian federation of publishers), was the occasion to discuss a law regulating the price of books. Approximately a hundred independent Brazilian publishers participated in this great celebration of books, from September 15-17, 2006.

Upon the publication of the Portuguese version of Protéger le livre (“Protecting books”) - a study published in 2003 by the
Alliance of Independent Publishers, Markus Gerlach, author of the study, accompanied by an economist and president of LIBRE, Araken Ribeiro, participated in an in-depth debate on setting fixed prices for books. Proteger o livro is the first co-publishing project between LIBRE and the Alliance of Independent Publishers. We are particularly pleased that Markus Gerlach’s work exists, in addition to the French and Spanish versions, in Portuguese.

Remaining active, the LIBRE organization organized a round table discussion focused on “Proposals and commitments made by Presidential candidates”, with the participation of several representatives of candidates from the principal parties involved in the Brazilian Presidential campaign.
As we can see, the establishment or the rejection of a law on books and readership makes for some serious debate,
particularly in Latin America.

(More info on: http://www.primaveradolivro.com.br/).

Read: The fifth issue of Bibliodiversity, the newsletter of the Alliance of independent publishers, has just come out!

The role played by books in spreading ideas, analyses, imaginary scapes and proposals, in educating and informing citizens, is essential to understand the challenges of our times, to know oneself and others. Read what follows (in French)

See the list of signatories

Read: The fourth issue of Bibliodiversity, the newsletter of the Alliance of independent publishers, has just come out!

A thorough report by Luc Pinhas, in French

Why do books have such restricted circulation in the French-speaking world? Which way does the flow go and which are one-way streets? What current legislation encourages publishing and the marketing of works? Are public policies sufficient? What setbacks are encountered in the marketing of works? Luc Pinhas draws a comprehensive portrait of the state of publishing, including legislation, circulation, distribution and marketing of books in the French-speaking world. This dossier, featuring entries on many themes and geographic locations, provides a complete overview of local realities, illustrated with telling examples. After analysing measures that states, associations and syndicates of publishing and book-store professionals have implemented, the author puts forward some proposals to fuel a much-needed debate. To achieve this and to hear what the main players had to say, especially with regard to the South, a fruitful survey was conducted at the Ouagadougou book fair in November 2004, in partnership with the international Association of French-speaking Bookstore Managers (AILF) - [http://www.librairesfrancophones.org/]

Year of publication: 2005, 288 pages, 15 X 21 cm, ISBN: 978-2-9519747-1-X

African literature in French is today better represented and better known in Europe than in Africa, where its distribution remains hampered by many obstacles. However, there are solutions, which require the mobilisation of various stakeholders in the book industry. One solution is co-publishing, based on a joint trade agreement. The publication of “L’Ombre d’Imana” by Véronique TADJO, a groundbreaking example of pan-African co-publishing, proves that it is possible, through joint action, to create the conditions necessary for a (re)appropriation by Africa of its literature. To make this possible, the Alliance is appealing to everyone, authors, publishers and institutions alike, to join forces and promote the bibliodiversity at the heart of the francophone spirit. This appeal is endorsed by many authors and book industry professionals.

These 80 recommendations are built on the principles upheld in the 2014 International Declaration of independent publishers, an important document promoting bibliodiversity, signed on September 20^th 2014, by more than 400 independent publishers from 45 countries.

They raise the necessary prerequisites, divided by themes, for the development, maintenance and strengthening of bibliodiversity in concerned countries. Some recommendations are accompanied by tools and projects (existing or to be developed in the context of the 2015-2016 Alliance programme of activities), enabling a practical implementation of independent publishers’ proposals.

Contents of the 80 recommendations & tools in support of bibliodiversity:

* Public policies safeguarding bibliodiversity
* Proposals and actions supporting digital bibliodiversity
* The Amazon system, a threat to bibliodiversity?
* Essential measures for publishing in local and national languages
* Methods for rethinking book donations
* Proposals and actions to develop solidarity publishing partnerships
* Activities to strengthen diversity in youth publishing

For all book actors to take ownership of these recommendations and tools, we invite you to contact us with your comments, suggestions, ideas, and proposals that could enhance and strengthen this document.