- Driven by the growth of independent publishing in Latin American countries.
- Revived by the increase in the number of fairs and meetings where creative and local editorial production are showcased.
- Encouraged by the ways in which some public reading and book policies are supporting local intellectual production and bibliodiversity.
Convened in Santiago de Chile on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd of October 2019, during the Spring of the Book (Primavera del Libro) and the International Conference of Independent Publishers (2019-2021), the Spanish-language network of the International Alliance of Independent Publishers (IAIP) declares:
- Its privileged link with reading, a liberating practice that raises consciousness, stimulates critical thinking, nourishes the mind; and with the book, a fundamental support of creation, knowledge and thought, pillar of culture and cultural diversity.
- Its concern about the increasing merger of the book chain, which translates into the marginalisation of local production in bookstores, particularly that of independent publishers; dominates the media, obscuring blocking creation and critical editorial production; and excludes small and medium-sized publishers from public procurements of books.
- Its willingness to promote practices, in the world of publishing, that enable a rich and diverse book ecosystem, that stimulates local intellectual production, translation, and balanced exchanges of books amongst Spanish-speaking countries; strengthens independent bookstores and their presence in cities and communities; grows public, academic and school libraries with diverse and inclusive book collections; reflects bibliodiversity, the cultural diversity in the world of books.
- Its support for public reading and book policies as key drivers of the democratisation of the book in our societies; as systemic strategies strengthening the potential impact of any decision or action; and as mechanisms preventing market concentration, for the benefit of national book industries and local production.
And commits towards:
- Strengthening the collective action of independent publishers in favour of bibliodiversity and the participatory development of sound public reading and book policies.
- Amplifying the voice of independent publishing and increasing exchanges with readers, actors of the world of books and culture and public institutions, through studies, manifestos, documents, regional, national, and international meetings, and through a clear commitment towards the communities concerned.
- Promoting the sharing and diversity of reading, education and training in our communities, from a critical perspective, mindful of being part of a world rich in bibliodiversity, which we must protect today more than ever.
- Constantly interrogating our own production processes and dynamics inherent in the publishing world, in order to improve its impacts on our social and natural environment.
- Identifying and analysing the strategies and good practices in our respective countries, to better implement them where they are lacking.
The aim is to strengthen book ecosystems locally by involving all relevant actors, and to promote a book culture in our societies, a necessary condition to escape manipulation and to build democratic societies for critical and committed citizens.
We call on all independent publishers who share these statements to sign this declaration:
- Silvia Aguilera, Lom ediciones, Editores de Chile, Chile.
- German Baquiola, Editorial La Caída and collective of independent publishers of Equator, Equator.
- Nicolas Biebel, Econautas Editorial, Argentina.
- Constanza Brunet, Marea editorial, Argentina.
- Mikel Buldain, Txalaparta, Basque Country.
- Mariela Calcagno, Hacerse de Palabras, Mexico.
- Fabiola Calvo Ocampo, Acracia Proyecto de Investigación Editorial, Colombia.
- Patricia Cocq Muñoz, Cocorocoq Editoras, Editores de Chile, Chile.
- Daniela Cortés del Castillo, Loba Ediciones, Editores de Chile, Chile.
- Mónica Cumar, Ediciones Columba, Editores de Chile, Chile.
- Héctor Dinsmann, Libros de la Araucaria, Argentina.
- Rodrigo Fuentes-Díaz, Edición Digital s.a., Editores de Chile, Chile.
- José Gabriel Feres, Virtual Ediciones, Editores de Chile, Chile.
- Gustavo Mauricio García, Ícono editorial and president of the Colombian Network of Independent Publishers.
- Catalina González, Luna libros and the collective La Diligencia, Colombia.
- Teresa Gottlieb, Editorial Maitri, Editores de Chile, Chile.
- Victor Hugo de la Fuente, Editorial Aún Creemos en los Sueños, Editores de Chile, Chile.
- Guido Indij, la marca editora, Argentina.
- Eduardo Lira, Escrito con Tiza, Editores de Chile, Chile.
- María Eugenia Lorenzini, Editorial Forja, Editores de Chile, Chile.
- Marcelo Mendoza, Mandrágora, Editores de Chile, Chile.
- Lucía Moscoso Rivera, Mecánica Giratoria, Ecuador.
- Pablo Moya, Ediciones el Milagro and Mexican Alliance of Independent Publishers Alliance, Mexico.
- Francisca Muñoz, general manager at Editores de Chile, Chile.
- Daniela Navarro, Ediciones Ekaré Sur, Editores de Chile, Chile.
- Mabel Andrea Rivera Pavez, Ediciones Universidad Alberto Hurtado, Editores de Chile, Chile.
- Eduardo Ruiz-Tagle Eyzaguirre, Editorial Rapanui Press, Editores de Chile, Chile.
- Luis Daniel Rocca, Taller de edición Rocca and Colombian Network of Independent Publishers.
- Juan Carlos Sáez, JC Sáez editor, Editores de Chile, Chile.
- Leonel Sagahón and Jerónimo Repoll, Editorial Tintable, Mexico.
- Alfonso Serrano, La Oveja Roja, Spain.
- Javier Sepúlveda, e-books Patagonia and president of Association Editores de Chile.
- Paulo Slachevsky, Lom ediciones, Editores de Chile, Coordinator RedH AIEI, Chile.
- Mónica Tejos, Simplemente editores, Editores de Chile, Chile.
- María José Thomas, Ocho Libros editores, Editores de Chile, Chile.
- Max Valdés Avilés, Vicio Impune Editorial, Editores de Chile, Chile.
- Carlos Vela, Editorial Pesopluma and collective of independent publishers of Peru, Peru.
- Marisol Vera, Editorial Cuarto Proprio, Editores de Chile, Chile.
To sign the “Declaration of Santiago de Chile on independent publishing serving communities and diversity”, please contact the Alliance’ team.
