The aim of the event was to discuss major provisions of a draft law adopted as a basis at first reading "On amendments to some laws of Ukraine regarding improvements of the system of state management in the book industry" (No. 3084).
Verkhovna Rada deputies, representatives of the executives, publishers, distributors of books, librarians and experts had a constructive discussion on necessity to improve the system of the State management in the Ukrainian book industry and to establish the Ukrainian Book Institute - a state establishment subordinated to the Culture Ministry of Ukraine in charge of realization of the State policy in the book industry.
An honorary guest of the roundtable Polish Book Institute Director Grzegorz Gauden shared the experience of functioning of a similar establishment in Poland and answered questions. He stated that the major direction of work of the Polish Book Institute is promotion of Polish books in the country and abroad.
Committee chairman Mykola Kniazhytskyi told the participants about the statute, funding, basic principles of functioning of the Ukrainian Book Institute. The establishment of the Ukrainian Book Institute is envisaged by draft law (No.3084).
Participating in the discussions were also Deputy Culture Minister of Ukraine Rostyslav Karandeev, Bohdan Chervak, first deputy chairman of the State Committee of Ukraine for Television and Radio, Oleksandr Afonin, president of the NGO "Ukrainian Association of Publishers and Book Distributors," and some others. The discussion also addressed activities of similar establishments in foreign countries, including programs for development of literature and publishing of Goethe-Institut 9Germany), British Council (Britain) and Instituto Cervantes (Spain).
Grzegorz Gauden expressed his support to the establishment of the Book Institute in Kyiv and noted that the Ukrainian project is designed on the ground of long experience in the field of popularization of national literature and reading in member states of the European Union. The director of the Polish Book Institute also declared readiness to share practical achievements of the Institute, including launch of a system for computerization of collections of libraries "MAK +".
The idea of establishing the Ukrainian Book Institute was welcomed by lots of Ukrainian intellectuals and public figures, including Myroslav Marynovych, Taras Voznyak, Yurii Prokhasko, Olha Hnatiuk, Bohdana Matiyash, Kostiantyn Moskalets, Leonid Finberg, Kostiantyn Sihov, Oleksandr Afonin and others.
Verkhovna Rada Committee on Culture and Spirituality works at a comparison table of draft law "On amendments to some laws of Ukraine regarding improvements of the system of state management in the book industry" (No. 3084). The Committee urges subjects of the right to legislative initiative to give constructive proposals to improve the wording of the draft law by the second reading.