 |
 |
 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Français | |
|||
| ||||||
Appendix 1 : Book sector survey
Book sector surveys collect and analyse economic, social, cultural, statistical and other data regarding the writing, publishing, printing, distribution and use of books and other printed materials, especially educational books. Book sector surveys provide facts and figures on the organization of the book industry, the difficulties faced by the industry in production and distribution (including libraries, school libraries and bookshops), the categories of personnel involved and their level of skills and training needs, institutions and co-ordination among them, the reading habits of the population, the structure and organization of the education systems, the need for instructional materials and the constraints met.
The name 'book sector study' was first used in the UNESCO Guidelines for the Preparation of a National Book Development Plan (1) but gained wide recognition through studies commissioned by the World Bank as part of a major reorientation of the Bank's assistance for book development. (2)
Textbook programmes are now moving away from book purchase and support for the development of a national capacity to write and produce curriculum materials, towards a greater recognition of the difficulties faced in developing sustainable publishing services. The need is recognized for accurate information and analysis as a basis for government policies and planning and for exploring the possibilities for international co-operation.
The book sector study approach arose out of efforts made to create reading societies but was limited to educational publishing. The concept assumes that the provision of learning materials for schools and non-formal programmes is not a purely educational matter. The approach enables an analysis to be made of each of the steps in the process of providing curriculum materials for students and teachers, by separating the provision of instructional materials from the rest of the education sector and identifying it as a sector by itself.
The book sector approach has provided a better understanding of the interaction between all involved. Problems which were previously considered as logistic, and due to inadequate funding, were seen instead from their relationship with other matters.
Since 1989, some thirty countries have carried out in-depth studies. According to World Bank reports, there were twenty-two book sector studies in 1992, some financed by the World Bank, some by ODA and other bilateral agencies, and some by UNICEF and other United Nations agencies. They covered Africa (Angola, Côte d'Ivoire, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Tanzania), Asia (Cambodia and Nepal), Eastern Europe (six studies) and the Middle East (two). Since then, a number of partial or complete book sector studies have been undertaken by various agencies in Bangladesh, Botswana, Brazil, India, Malawi, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Not all of these studies are equally detailed and there may have been more studies undertaken than those identified here. It is, however, disturbing to note that even where book sector studies have been undertaken, the information is seldom easily accessible. It can prove difficult to establish which countries have carried out such studies and to obtain copies of them.
Needs and priorities of the book sector vary from country to country and region to region. Information about the book sector is often scarce and quite difficult to obtain. Lengthy and expensive research is often needed.
To overcome some of the problems associated with book sector studies, such as isolation and the lack of such studies in developing countries, prohibitive costs and a lack of follow-up programmes, book sector surveys must be institutionalized and become part of a programme for book development.
On the other hand, if updated country book sector surveys exist in summary form, they can provide useful baseline information. The existence of, and access to, a directory of updated information on the book sector in individual countries would not only facilitate preliminary needs assessments and project identification but would permit the South's book industry to gain access to resources, expertise and knowledge.
Cambodia book sector study
1. Introduction
Part 1. Background to the sector
2. Economy and finance
Economic background and trends
Finance for education
Government financing of educational books
3. The education system
Primary and secondary
Technical/vocational and teacher training
Higher education
Non-formal education
Key issues
4. Donor agency activity-background
Donor activity in the education sector
Bilateral and multilateral agencies
Recommendations
5. Current levels of educational book provision
Primary and secondary schools
Technical/vocational
Teacher training
Higher education
Non-formal education
Part 2. The book trade in Cambodia
6. Authorship and copyright
7. Publishing capacity
Publishing in Cambodia
Financial problems
Case studies
Conclusions and recommendations
8. Paper and raw materials
Paper and cover cards
Other raw materials
Conclusions and recommendations
Source: See Cambodia Book Sector Study: summary Report. CODE/OCED, Ontario, 1993.
Study on textbook provision in SADC countries
Executive summary
1. Background
Basic information
External aid and government funding for the textbook sector Available skills and trained personnel
2. Curriculum and textbook development
Curriculum development and reform
Examinations
Textbook authorship and royalties
Supplementary materials and library services
Copyright
Strengths, weaknesses and inter-country co-operation
3. Publishing and textbook manufacture
Textbook provision
Textbook publishing
Textbooks
Printing industry
Paper Strengths, weaknesses and inter-country co-operation
4. Marketing, sales and distribution
Supply factors
Strengths, weaknesses and inter-country co--operation
5. Financing of textbooks
Expenditure and costs
Imports, exports, tariffs, taxes
Procurement
Strengths, weaknesses and inter-country co-operation
6. Recommendations/Plan of action
Strengths and weaknesses
Range of possible solutions to problems
Proposals for action - by government - by external agencies
Source: See Cambodia Book Sector Study: summary Report. CODE/OCED, Ontario, 1993.
The objectives of book sector studies have normally been threefold: to provide an accurate description of the current level of book provision in the country under study, to provide a focus for government policy and decision making, and to provide an investment framework for both governments and interested donor agencies. The structure and organization of the studies have more or less followed the same pattern, though the extent and analysis have differed.
For illustration and comparison, an overview of two book sector surveys is presented on the following pages. One is a book sector study (3) for Cambodia commissioned by CODE (the Canadian Organisation for Development through Education), and the other is the framework provided by UNESCO for a book sector study covering five southern African countries: Botswana, Malawi, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, which UNESCO undertook in collaboration with their governments (also known as the SADC Book Sector Studies). (4)
The Cambodia Book Sector Study: Summary Report is based on six individual specialist studies covering Economy and Finance; Authorship, Copyright and Publishing; Printing and Raw Materials; Distribution and Book Availability; Higher Education Textbooks and Libraries; and Book Provision in Technical, Vocational, Complementary and Non-formal Education.
The outlines of the two studies are parallel. However, the Cambodia study is more comprehensive and reflects more clearly institutional realities and distinguishes more consistently between, on the one hand, information which relates directly to educational planning and management, and on the other, information which pertains to general publishing and the more industrial issues of manufacture and sale.
National book sector outlines (5)
In the context of INTERBOOK, an international network for the exchange of information in publishing, (6) the following model for national book sector outlines has been proposed for implementation in all participating countries.
It is the intention that these national book sector outlines, if established, will respond to the information needs of individuals, organizations and institutions influencing or operating in the book sector in a given country or regions, such as national policy-makers, curriculum development officers, authors, publishers, booksellers, printers, consumers, international publishers and book distributors, the international donor community and book professionals of various kinds.
Past experience with international publishing groups has shown that a major obstacle to improving the supply of books and appropriate reading materials is the publishers' lack of access to information on issues ranging from policy development to procurement and supply. Similarly, donors are hampered in their efforts to support publishing by limited data and analysis of the results achieved.
The type of information which would have both a regional and global application includes individual success with the international competitive bidding system, which could assist a publisher in a different region to deal with the same system, analysis of regional manufacturing costs, which could provide options to a publisher considering whether to print locally or offshore, examples of North-South and South-South co-publishing and success in securing finance for joint ventures, and details of a training course developed in one region which could be adapted for use in another.
The proposed outlines should be seen as 'sketches' and are not of the type that characterize the book sector studies that have been commissioned in the past by bilateral and multilateral donor agencies. The main reason for this is logistical; it is impossible to conduct costly and detailed studies of every country in the South. The outlines are brief enough to be completed at minimum expense with local expertise so that completion is not dependent on outside funding or expatriate consultants. This facilitates regular updating and encourages local responsibility for the work.
An important aspect of country profiles is to show that development of the book industry is not solely dependent on donor funding. It must be stressed that an information service such as the one proposed, though it benefits a variety of clients, ultimately exists to serve the needs of the South and must be seen from that perspective.
The process is often reversed. For example, book sector studies do a good job of describing the book situation in a country at the time when a team visits it. This often presents a bleak picture. However, there is a tendency for such studies to view countries as single but not unique cases and, while emphasizing negative aspects, not to convey the potential for growth which exists. Proposed solutions can reflect the donor's interest and determination to implement a project but not the country's need to improve its local publishing. National book sector outlines should not try to standardize projects or insist that one book model provides a global solution but should rather suggest options, alternatives and ideas that can be examined, compared, adapted and used.
National book sector outline model
1. Background information
2. Education
3. Reading indicators
4. Policy environment
5. Publishing industry
(n.b. mainly a statistical survey)
5.1 Overall structure
5.2 Ownership
5.3 Performance
6. Donor involvement
7. Overall assessment and future outlook
(N.B. mainly an analytical narrative, could include appraisals by individuals)
8. Sources of information
The beneficiaries of outlines are many and include individuals, associations, companies and governments. Each comes from an industry that has its own characteristics, levels of development and degrees of sophistication. However, each shares the same goal of expanding the book trade and relates to the same universal publishing process. This means that the lessons learned in one region or the technology developed will always have some relevance elsewhere. Access to a system of national book sector outlines, which profile a nation's publishing activities, capacities, weaknesses and achievements, will allow comparisons to be made, will give publishers new proposals for the solution of problems and assist donors in the avoidance of duplication and waste.
Apart from basic country statistics, the outlines contain narratives which comment on book policies or the lack of them or provide details of the strengths and weaknesses of each industry. Contact names and addresses are important for those wishing to correspond with another association or individual.
The way in which information is collected and classified determines the manner in which it can be made available and used. The following is a proposed framework for national book sector outlines.
| | |
| Chapter 6 | Appendix 2: Adresses and Bibliography | Top |
