Adopt ICT in book publishing - Kosi Kedem
Local book publishers and printers have been urged to adopt Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in their work to meet the modern trends in book publishing.
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The Board Chairman of the Ghana Library Authority, Mr Kosi Kedem, who made the call, said although printed books would not die out, it was important for publishers to embrace the ICT revolution to stay in business.
“At any rate, if the publishers and printers of the printed book want to stay in business and also contribute to knowledge, then they do not have options but to embrace the ICT revolution,” he stated.
Mr Kedem was speaking at the 30th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Ghana Book Publishers Association in Accra yesterday.
The meeting, which discussed issues pertaining to the industry, was on the theme: “Professional book publishing in Ghana: A resource for quality education and national development.”
Electronic book
Currently, Mr Kedem said, there was the internet which had brought about electronic book (e-book) and social media.
Therefore, printers and publishers must take advantage of the change to market their books as well as improve on their format and quality.
Contrary to assertions that the e-book and internet would replace printed books, Mr Kedem argued that both could complement each other just as in the case of traditional and digital library.
Editing
Mr Kedem stressed the need for publishers to incorporate professional editing and peer-review mechanisms in publishing and promotion of reading and the use of books.
He also encouraged local book publishers and printers to find a way of converting challenges in their businesses to opportunities.
The President of the publishers association, Dr Samuel Osafo Acquaah, said the reading habit of individuals, especially the youth, was changing hence the need to adopt ICT and the digital form of disseminating information.
He announced that the executive of the association was working towards establishing the association as a professional body, to regulate the publishing industry.
The Secretary-General of the Pan African Writers Association (PAWA), Professor Atukwei Okai, urged the publishers to make quality their hallmark and encouraged them to market the products of their clients well.