The Alliance

Presentation & objectives

Vandana Shiva, author and activist (India), Bibliodiversity Ambassador of the Alliance

“I wouldn’t have written the many books if I didn’t have publishers who were sensitive, publishers who had their own networks, publishers who worked with my philosophy of smallness is beautiful, smallness in self-organised form is largeness—it is largeness of mind, it is largeness of heart, it is largeness in terms of expanding the possibilities of humanity and the earth in a time where the dominant economy would like to shrink those possibilities.”

“If you were not as diverse as you are and if you did not publish the diversity of ideas that are necessary for our times not only would you as a publishing network not have the resilience and robustness that is needed, but wouldn’t be providing that amazing robustness to society in a period where, like monocultures are destroying the fertility of the soil and creating deserts (...)”

Read the speech by Vandana Shiva at the closing of the International Conference on Independent Publishers, Pamplona-Iruñea, 26 November 2021.

This speech is also available in audio on the Alliance’s Youtube channel.

Partager l'article

Djaïli Amadou Amal, author (Cameroon), Bibliodiversity Ambassador of the Alliance

“More than ever, the future of the book—namely its diversity and promotion of minority and alternative voices—rests on the shoulders of independent editors, who give life to the book’s cultural necessity through their commitment, convictions, and attachment to causes that break with the lone dictature of capitalism.”

“My third novel, Munyal ; les larmes de la patience (forthcoming in English translation in October 2022 as The Impatients), is now available in many Francophone African countries because of the Alliance’s ’Terres solidaires’ collection. Many African authors feature on that list, but the part that brings me the most pride is to have such a recognition from Sub-Saharan Africa, where I live and work. This is truly the spirit of diversity that is so dear to the Alliance, and what represents the values that we writers and editors must defend and promote. The Alliance plays such a fundamental role in this sense, mitigating as much as possible the issue of book distribution in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly Francophone countries.”

Read the speech by Djaïli Amadou Amal at the closing of the International Conference on Independent Publishers, Pamplona-Iruñea, 26 November 2021.

Translated from the French by Allison M. Charette.

This speech is also available in audio on the Alliance’s Youtube channel.

Partager l'article

Independent Publishing Glossary

The Independent Publishing Glossary is a collective project led by publishers from the Spanish-language network of the International Alliance of Independent Publishers.

It shows the meanings and definitions of words commonly used in publishing. It is an evolving project, which will be enriched over time in order to include new concepts and to take into account other proposal for definitions. The idea is not to freeze or petrify the concepts, but to open them up to enhance their multiple meanings.

Each term is signed by the person who worked on the definition. The glossary was edited by Germán Gacio Baquiola (Corredor Sur Editorial, Ecuador / Colectivo Editores independientes de Ecuador), Teresa Gottlieb, (Editorial Maitri, Chile), Paulo Slachevsky (Lom Ediciones, Chile) and Miguel Villafuerte, (Editorial Blanca, Ecuador).

Partager l'article

Objectives 2022-2025

1/ The Alliance, a place for experimentation and reflection through the Bibliodiversity Observatory

  • Continue the analyses, reflections and advocacy via the thematic working groups set up during the 2014 Conference and set up new working groups on the themes and issues discussed during the 2021 Conference
  • Providing tools and documenting international independent publishing

2/ The Alliance, a space for collaboration and sharing

  • Share practices and know-how (on regional, national or even international levels, depending on the needs expressed) between publishers
  • Meet and strengthen the flow of exchanges

3/ The Alliance, a tool for promoting independent publishing and the circulation of books

  • Encourage the visibility and promotion of independent publishing
  • Promote the circulation of works and productions of independent publishing houses

4/ The Alliance, a laboratory of alternative editorial practices

5/ The Alliance, an evolving governance and operation

  • REthink
  • Get involved

Partager l'article

Pamplona-Iruñea Declaration ’for independent, decolonial, ecological, feminist, free, social and solidarity-based publishing’

Gathered in the city of Pamplona-Iruñea from 23 to 26 November 2021 at the fourth International Conference of Independent Publishers, organised in partnership with EDITARGI (Association of Independent Publishers of Navarre), we, the publishers of the International Alliance of Independent Publishers (IAIP), reaffirm our commitment to :

  • the cultural, social and political character of books and reading ;
  • the democratisation of books in our societies ;
  • reading as an emancipatory practice that strengthens the critical thinking of citizens and stakeholders within their society.

Read the full Declaration here :

This Declaration is in line with the discussions and work of the International Alliance of Independent Publishers, in particular the Declarations of 2003, 2007 and 2014 and the 80 recommendations in favour of bibliodiversity. It will be complemented by a Guide to Good Practice (collective work in progress, for publication in the first half of 2022).

The round-table discussions of the Conference are available in replay on the Alliance’s YouTube channel.

Partager l'article

Objectives 2015-2021

Support bibliodiversity and independent publishing through a professional solidarity network

  • Support the creation and strengthening of memberships to national and/or regional publisher collectives (including in Europe)
  • Promote bibliodiversity, popularise the idea of bibliodiversity for the general public, for example through the (International Bibliodiversity Day on 21 September, )

Support the creation of national, regional and international book policies

Reaffirm and defend freedom and equity of speech

  • Create a censorship typology ; draft advocacy plans in support of, and in solidary with, publishers

Strengthen collaborative spaces and innovate to respond to tomorrow’s changes and issues

  • Develop the Digital Lab, organize workshops, and sharing of experiences and tools (on digital publishing, editorial solidarity partnerships, national and local languages publishing, etc.)
  • Strengthen inter-professional collaboration (authors, librarians, booksellers, diffusers-distributors, digital actors, etc.) : inter-professional meetings, joint lobbying

Reinstate equilibrium between book exporting countries and importing countries

  • Manage an online resource centre, complementing the Bibliodiversity Observatory
  • Modernize book donation practices : Book Donation Charter reviewed by professionals from the global South
  • Participate in book fairs (collective stands in book fairs in both the global South and global North), promotion of books from the South in the North

Develop and strengthen intercultural sharing

  • Develop and support copublishing/ translation projects : North-South and South-South editorial partnerships bearing the “Fair Trade Book” label, and research on economic solidarity models (social and solidarity economy)

Publishers collectively adopted the Alliance’s 2015-2018 objectives during the International Assembly of independent publishing (2012-2014). Projects and activities arise from each of these directions, and are implemented by the Alliance during the 2015-2018 period.

Partager l'article

The Independent publisher

The socio-economic environment, historical approach and political context are only some of the factors to consider in appreciating, in all its complexity and diversity, the notion of an independent publisher. Independent publishers in Chile, France, Benin, Lebanon, or India work in specific contexts that have direct consequences on their activities. However, although the situation differs from one country to another, it is possible to agree on some criteria in order to define what is an independent publisher. Independent publishers develop their editorial policy freely, autonomously, and without external interference. They are not the mouthpieces for a political party, religion, institution, communication group, or company. The structure of capital and the shareholders identity also affect their independence : the takeover of publishing houses by big companies not linked to publishing and implementation of profit-driven policies often result in a loss of independence and a shift in publishing orientation. Independent publishers, as defined by the Alliance’s publishers, are originating publishers : through their often-innovative publishing choices, freedom of speech, publishing and financial risk-taking, they participate in discussions, distribution, and development of their readers’ critical thinking. In this regard, they are key players in bibliodiversity.

Partager l'article

International Declaration of Independent Publishers 2014

During the closing meeting of the International Assembly of Independent Publishers (Cape Town, South Africa, September 18-21, 2014), 400 independent publishers from 45 countries signed the International Declaration of Independent Publishers 2014.
Collectively drafted in three languages, on September 20, 2014, the Declaration 2014 is available in several languages (French, English, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Farsi, Italian, etc.).

Do not hesitate to share the Declaration and promote and strengthen bibliodiversity with us !

Read here the 80 recommendations & tools (on digital publishing, public book policies, youth literature, national and local languages publishing, solidarity publishing partnerships and “Fair Trade Books”, book donations).

Partager l'article

Bibliodiversity

Bibliodiversity is cultural diversity applied to the world of books. Echoing biodiversity, it refers to the critical diversity of products (books, scripts, eBooks, apps, and oral literature) made available to readers. Bibliodiversity is a complex, self-sustaining system of storytelling, writing, publishing, and other kinds of production of oral and written literature. The writers and producers are comparable to the inhabitants of an ecosystem. Bibliodiversity contributes to a thriving life of culture and a healthy eco-social system. While large publishers do contribute to publishing diversity through the quantitative importance of their production, it is not enough to guarantee bibliodiversity, which is not only measured by the number of titles available.
Independent publishers, even if they consider their publishing houses’ economic balance, are above all concerned with the content of published products. Independent publishers’ books bring a different outlook and voice, as opposed to the more standardised publications offered by major groups. Independent publishers’ books and other products and their preferred diffusion channels (independent booksellers, among others) are therefore essential to preserve and strengthen plurality and the diffusion of ideas. The word bibliodiversity was invented by Chilean publishers, during the creation of the “Editores independientes de Chile” collective in the late 1990s. The International Alliance of independent publishers significantly contributed to the diffusion and promotion of this notion in several languages, including through the Dakar Declaration (2003), Guadalajara Declaration (2005), Paris Declaration (2007), Cape Town Declaration (2014) and the Pamplona-Iruñea Declaration (2021). Since 2010, International Bibliodiversity Day is celebrated on 21 September.

See the article « Bibliodiversity » on Wikipedia.
The article also exists in French, Spanish and Portuguese.

The bibliodiversity, in pictures !

GIF - 1.3 Mo

Partager l'article

Predation

Container full of books inundating the market, books produced in another cultural setting given away free to readers or public libraries, the setup of local branches by publishing groups from abroad aiming to achieve monopoly conditions… Drawing on some examples of practices with damaging consequences to the publishing market in developing countries, Étienne Galliand (founder of the International Alliance of Independent Publishers) presents an overview of the predation to which emerging markets are subjected directly or indirectly. An edifying panorama.

As a complement to this article, you can consult the Guidelines for Fair Publishing Partnerships (in French).

Partager l'article

1 | 2

Activities

Lectures d’Afrique(s), téléchargez le catalogue !

Auteur(s) : Catalogue collectif
Pays de parution : République de Guinée, Afrique du Sud, Bénin, Brésil, Madagascar, Mali, Maroc, Rwanda, Tunisie
Langue(s) : anglais , arabe , français , malgache , portugais , amazighe , bambara , kinyarwanda , kiswahili

Ancrés dans le quotidien africain, dans les rues de Bamako et de Conakry, au port de pêche de Cotonou, sur les terres tunisiennes, ou imprégnés de l’héritage afro-brésilien, découvrez dès maintenant les 281 contes, documentaires, albums et romans qui composent ce catalogue. La production de neuf maisons d’édition indépendantes d’Afrique (Afrique du Sud, Bénin, Madagascar, Mali, Maroc, République de Guinée, Rwanda, Tunisie) et du Brésil est ainsi disponible en France, en Belgique et en Suisse ! Si vous souhaitez diversifier votre fonds, lire en bambara, en arabe, en anglais, en portugais, en kinyarwanda, en malgache, en français, si vous désirez tout simplement découvrir... la solution est ici... tournez les pages !

L’Alliance diffuse et distribue l’ensemble des ouvrages présentés dans le catalogue.

Téléchargez ici le catalogue.

Le catalogue Lectures d’Afrique(s) a été réalisé avec le soutien de la Région Ile-de-France.

Partager l'article

African Book, Press and Culture Fair in Geneva, April 29 - May 3, 2011 : independent publishers perspective

Pays de parution : Suisse

Ten independent publishers from ten countries will be present during the African Book Fair in Geneva from 29 April to 3 May 2011. They will participate in roundtables and workshops about digital publishing, children’s book publishing in Africa, publishing in national and local languages, etc.

This event has been initiated by the Alliance, in partnership with the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (Institut de la Francophonie Numérique) and the SDC - Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.

Partager l'article

Communiqué to all members : Announcement of the setup of the International Committee of Independent Publishers (ICIP)

In line with decisions taken at the 2007 International Assembly on Independent Publishers in Paris, the language network Coordinators and the Board of the Alliance have been meeting on an annual basis since 2009 (please see our November 2009 Communiqué).

On 11 October 2010, the Coordinators and the Board of the Alliance met in Paris and decided jointly to create “The International Committee of Independent Publishers” (ICIP) [...].
Because the publisher members – Allies – are the primary players in the Alliance, the members of the ICIP and the Board of the Alliance are submitting the creation of the International Committee of Independent Publishers (ICIP) to your approval.

Partager l'article

Contos do mar sem fim

Auteur(s) : Cinco autores de Angola, quatro de Guiné-Bissau e sete escritores do Brasil
Pays de parution : Angola, Brésil, Guinée-Bissao
Langue(s) : portugais
Prix : R$ 32,00

Ce recueil, qui emprunte son titre à un vers emblématique de Fernando
Pessoa, est une véritable invitation au voyage, à travers seize récits
d’auteurs du Brésil, de Guinée-Bissau et D’Angola.

Date de publication : 2010 ; 224 pages ; 14 X 21 cm ; ISBN : 978-85-347-0294-2

Partager l'article

Communiqué from the Tunisian Publishers’ Union, 21 January 2011

Pays de parution : Tunisie

Extract from the Tunisian Publishers’ Union’s communiqué, published on 21 January 2011

« The Tunisian Publishers’ Union, whose members met on Friday, 21 January, congratulates the Tunisian people, is proud of its glorious revolution and pays tribute to its martyrs, while declaring its unwavering support for the popular resistance ».

Partager l'article

Communiqué in support of Txalaparta Publishing following attacks on « El manual del torturador español » and on freedom of expression, December 2010

Paris, December 2010

It is with great concern that the International Alliance of Independent Publishers has noted the recent censorship of a book in Spain, and the threats made against the independent publishing house Txalaparta, member of the Alliance’s Spanish-speaking network.

The book in question, « El manual del torturador español » (The Spanish Torturer’s Manual) – by Xabier MAKAZAGA denounces the torture carried out by the Spanish police. The book was withdrawn from a public library (in the Basauri town council), following a request by a political party and certain Madrid newspapers to remove it from all libraries where it was made available to readers. However the practices described in this book support the accusations already made in reports by Amnesy International and by the UN Recorder on Human Rights. The campaign against this book has already been publicly denounced by public librarians. Furthermore the Basque Country Human Rights Observer (Behatokia) sent a letter of protest to Frank de la Rue, Special Recorder on Human Rights and Freedom of Expression with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, whose headquarters are in Geneva.

The International Alliance of independent publishers, whose objectives include defending freedom of expression and denouncing all forms of censorship, also has a duty to respond publicly when attacks or infringements are directed – for ideological reasons – against independent publishers, whose very job it is to encourage the dissemination of ideas and to contribute to forging the identity of people and their culture.

One has only to examine Txalaparta’s publishing catalogue to appreciate the vast range of literary works and essays which constitute an undeniable contribution to bibliodiversity, while reflecting a clear editorial policy.

This is why we independent publishers are appealing to the Spanish authorities to respect the work of independent publishers and to encourage respect for fundamental rights and democracy.

We also appeal to independent publishers, booksellers, librarians and readers to follow the development of this matter closely and to express their support to Txalaparta Publishing in order to defend and respect the right to information that is true and diverse.


The Spanish-language network of the International Alliance of independent publishers

Partager l'article

The two prizewinners 2010 of the « Terres solidaires » collection !

On Monday, 6 December 2010, following hours of online discussions among the 9 members of the Reading Committee of the “Terres solidaires” collection (“United Lands”), the 2010 prizewinners of the collection were announced : « Trop de soleil tue l’amour », by Mongo BETI and « Mandela et moi », by Lewis NKOSI !
These two new joint co-publications will be launched in Africa in February 2011.

The Alliance expresses its warmest thanks to the members of the Reading Committee (see the list below) for their involvement and their enthusiastic discussions !

• Agnès ADJAHO (former manager of the Notre Dame bookshop, Bénin) ;

• Élisabeth DALDOUL (Elyzad Publishing, Tunisia) ;

• Boubacar Boris DIOP (writer, Senegal - Tunisia) ;

• Emmanuel DONGALA (writer, Congo- United States) ;

• Mariame GBA (librarian, Côte d’Ivoire) ;

• Sofiane HADJADJ (Barzakh Publishing, Algeria) ;

• Jean-Claude NABA (Sankoka & Gurli Publishing, Burkina Faso) ;

• François NKEME (Ifrikiya Publishing, Cameroon) ;

• The book club of Oujda High School (Morocco).

Partager l'article

Dictionnaire de la narratologie

Auteur(s) : Mohamed EL KHADI ; Mohamed EL KHABOU ; Ahmed SMAOUI ; Mohamed Najib AMANI ; Ali ABID ; Noureddine BEN KHOUD ; Fathi NASRI ; Mohamed Ayet MIHOUB
Pays de parution : Algérie, Égypte, Liban, Maroc, Tunisie
Langue(s) : arabe
Prix : 30 000 TND

Le Dictionnaire de la narratologie est un ouvrage de référence, ayant pour objectif de faciliter la diffusion et la transmission des idées, par l’uniformisation des concepts entre lecteurs arabophones. Il permet d’affiner les définitions proposées dans différents essais critiques arabes dont l’appareil conceptuel puise directement dans les œuvres des théoriciens de la narratologie occidentale.
Le Dictionnaire se présente sous forme d’un glossaire des termes en usage dans l’analyse du récit. Il comporte aussi des termes relevant des champs d’étude de la narratologie traditionnelle et énonciative, des termes et des notions empruntées à la pragmatique et à l’analyse du discours.

Aux termes arabes ont été adjoints les correspondances en français et en anglais pour répondre aux besoins du lectorat aussi bien francophone (Maghreb) qu’anglophone (Moyen-Orient).

Le Dictionnaire de la narratologie est entre autres destiné aux étudiants et aux chercheurs, aux critiques littéraires et aux auteurs.

Date de publication : septembre 2010, 600 pages, 16,5 X 23,5 cm, 540 concepts présentés en français, en anglais et en arabe,
ISBN : 978-9973-33-294-3

Partager l'article

Meeting on the digital publishing in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso), December 18 - 21, 2010

Pays de parution : Burkina Faso

The International Alliance of Independent Publishers organizes from 18 to 21 December 2010 a meeting on the digital publishing in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso), in partnership with the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie.

Partager l'article

Meeting of the English-language network in Paris, October 13 - 15, 2010

Pays de parution : France
Langue(s) : anglais

The English-language network next meeting will take place in Paris from 13th to 15th October 2010. Discussions about the network current and future projects (translation, co-publishing, book fairs, etc.) are planned.
Being in Paris will be an opportunity for the seven publishers (Spinifex in Australia, Jacana Media in South Africa, The New Press in the United States, Tulika and Women Unlimited in India and Zed Books in the United Kingdom) to meet French publishers (Actes Sud, La Fabrique...).

Partager l'article

1 | ... | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | ... | 34

{#ENV{titre},#SELF,sujet}