Enhancing the culture of reading and books in the digital age

Frankfurt Book Fair, October 13th

What has happened to reading in the age of the Internet? Will the digital age put an end to the culture of reading and books that has been nurtured over centuries? In association with the Frankfurt Book Fair, the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), the International Federation of Reproduction Rights Organisations (IFRRO), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the International Publishers Association (IPA) and the European Writers’ Council (EWC), are pleased to organise a one day conference on ‘The Culture of Reading and Books in the Digital Age’ to address these issues.

The conference will take place on October 13th, the day before the opening of the Frankfurt Book Fair, and it seeks to show the ways in which libraries, writers and publishers can foster a culture of reading in the age of digital information and communication technologies. Featuring speakers of an exceptional quality, the programme looks at traditional and innovative means of access to copyrighted works, including e-books, online licensing and emerging technical platforms, and debates the role of copyright legislation in promoting access.

Speakers will address existing legal frameworks in the digital environment and the issues under development, in particular the importance of copyright legislation to the economy. During the afternoon of the conference the focus shifts to literacy, publishing, libraries and reading with discussion of fostering reading and writing at a local level and the role of publishers and libraries in preserving local heritage and culture. The conference concludes with a panel discussion on how libraries and rightsholders can co-operate to enhance accessibility to copyrighted works.

The workshop will take place at:
Frankfurt Book Fair
Messe Frankfurt
Ludwig-Erhard-Anlage 1
D-60327 Frankfurt am Main; Hall 4.2; Room Dimension

Registration for this event is FREE. We are pleased to announce that the Frankfurt Book Fair will also provide a free light lunch. To register, please send an email with your name and affiliation to:
events@ifla.org

Registrants will receive an electronic registration letter containing details of the programme and the location. This letter should be printed out and presented at the entrance for admission.

For further information about the Frankfurt Book Fair, please contact Sandra Poczka : poczka@book-fair.com