The policy instruments for the book industry are engrained within the yearly public calls of the Ministry of Culture and Media, which are oriented to supporting programmes and projects in book production, distribution and consumption. The Ministry also opens yearly public calls oriented to enhancing literary creativity in the forms of stipends for writers, translators as well as financial stimulation in the form of grants for authors of lauded published works in literature as well as translation grants of Croatian authors by foreign publishers. It also secures funding so that the public lending rights for authors (including writers, translators and illustrations) can be met on a yearly basis, which are enforced through the HDS-ZAMP service since 2015 (see chapter 7.2.2.)
The main strategic document in this field is the National Strategy for Promotion of Reading (2017-2022) that was adopted in November 2017. The thee key strategic goals were: (1) establishing an effective social framework to support reading; (2) developing reading literacy and encouraging readers to read actively and critically and (3) increasing the availability of books and other reading materials. The Strategy is being implemented through its adjacent Action Plan (2017-2022), which is supported through the work and financing of the Ministry of Culture and Media, Ministry of Science and Education but also through additional planned funding through projects financed by the European Social Fund (ESF). In 2021, the results of the ESF call ‘Through Reading to Social Inclusion’ were announced 12 projects were selected and supported in the amount of 35 000 000 HRK (4 645 298 EUR) among which a large part of funding was dedicated to the support of the bibliobuses (mobile bus libraries) network. However, there are critiques from the cultural sector on the inadequately developed measures and slow implementation of the Strategy, while the new strategic focus will be developed through the new overall National Plan for the Development of Culture and Media that is in preparation (see 2.1). The new model of funding for the People’s libraries is in preparation for implementation in 2023 as well as the new campaign ‘Read to Me’ dedicated to supporting reading in small children.
During 2021-2022 the main discussions in the sector were related to the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has made to the sector and whether the measures that were introduced have been sufficient. Following the epidemiological measures, libraries and bookstores remained opened throughout most of the pandemic, while a number of publishers, as well as bookstores, have enhanced their online web stores. By the end of 2022, most of the festivals and manifestations have shifted to offline editions – the biggest publishing fair Interliber also that had record attendance. However, in 2022, together with consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, the book industry in Croatia has also had to struggle with the global shortage of paper as well as the impact of the war in Ukraine.
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