Kiri

From: Anne Bergman <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, May 18, 2020 11:14 AM To: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; Kultuuriminister <[email protected]>; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected] Cc: [email protected]; [email protected]; Jean Luc Treutenaere <[email protected]>; Fabian Paagman <[email protected]>; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; Kristof Thijssens <[email protected]>; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; Catherine BLACHE <[email protected]>; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; Piero Attanasio <[email protected]>; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; Peter Kraus vom Cleff Peter <[email protected]>; [email protected]; [email protected]; Chris Gruppetta ([email protected]) <[email protected]> Subject: Support the book sector - two initiatives Dear Mrs Commissioner, Dear Ministers of Culture, The European and International Booksellers Federation and the Federation of European Publishers would like to bring to your attention, ahead of the Culture Council of tomorrow, two initiatives they would like to see applied all over Europe, to support the entire book chain. The initiatives are - Vouchers for citizens to buy books in local bookshops - Public purchases of books for libraries and educational establishments, through local bookshops. Both initiatives would support the entire book chain, from authors to readers. We thank you for your attention Yours sincerely, Julie Belgrado Anne Bergman-Tahon Director Director Purchase of books via institutions Concept A scheme for the massive purchase of books (in all formats) on behalf of public institutions (libraries, etc.). Such a scheme will revitalise the entire book value chain while replenishing and updating the collections of libraries, schools and other institutions, and ultimately increase citizens’ access to books. Context The entire book sector has been severely hit by the closure of or limitations in access to bookshops, and by the cancellation of literary events, including book fairs. Among many measures to help authors, publishers, and booksellers, a very effective one would be to finance and carry out a scheme for the massive purchase of books on behalf of public institutions in every EU Member State. Several governments have already implemented such measures or are envisaging this kind of plan, and it would be very helpful to make it a generalised policy across the EU. The book sector is traditionally privately financed, with little or no public subsidies. With the crisis, the sector has no choice now but to ask for – at least temporary – public support. All cultural sectors are affected to different degrees by the crisis. The book sector asks the public authorities to assess the impact and to help each of them as much as possible, with targeted measures to limit the damage and kickstart a recovery. This paper is meant to inform the discussion around the best solutions to help the book sector, and encourage their adoption. A massive purchase of books by libraries would accomplish several objectives: providing a lifeline to the whole book value chain (authors, publishers, booksellers) with an injection of much needed liquidity, updating and upgrading the collections of libraries and institutions of all kinds, and more generally incentivise reading. The benefits of reading not only for the cultural development of citizens, but also in terms of their improved democratic participation and economic prospects are well known1; moreover, participation in cultural activities, and especially reading and frequenting libraries, are proven factors of economic resilience to crises2. Development The measure here recommended is to step up public investments toward book, ebook and journal purchasing/licensing/subscription plans for institutions, particularly public libraries, schools and school libraries, university libraries and research institutions. Such purchases should be channelled through local bookshops whenever possible and focus on books published by a diverse range of publishers, allowing libraries and other institutions involved 1 Cfr. Brunello G., Weber G. and Weiss C.T., 2015, “Books are Forever: Early Life Conditions, Education and Lifetime Earnings in Europe”, Economic Journal, vol. 127(600), pp. 271-296. 2 Cellini R. and Cuccia T., 2019. “Do Behaviours in Cultural Markets Affect Economic Resilience? An Analysis of Italian Regions”, European Planning Studies, vol. 27(4), pp. 784-801. maximum freedom and flexibility in the choice, based on the knowledge of their patrons, students, etc. Procedures for public procurement should be accelerated and simplified accordingly, including legislative changes if necessary. In general, the process should be fast and simple. Where possible, existing plans for the purchase of books and licences should be fast-tracked and could serve as a basis for expansion. The provision should not affect the allocation of funds to the same end in the following years. In parallel, schools should receive sufficient funds for a smooth transition to remote learning, especially for purchasing learning materials. Similarly, public libraries should have enough funding to enrich their offer of e-lending and academic libraries should be allocated appropriate budgets including for undergraduate oriented digital resources. The initiative should be supported with an appropriate amount of funds. The EU could recommend such a measure to the Members States under the Recovery Fund. Book voucher Concept A voucher that will permit citizens to buy books (print, digital and audio) at their local bookshops. Such a voucher will be an incentive for citizens to have access to more books and will create positive market conditions for the sector, booksellers but also authors, translators and publishers. Context The entire book sector has been severely hit by the closure of or limitations in access to bookshops, and by the cancellation of literary events, including book fairs. Among many measures to help authors, publishers, and booksellers, a very effective one would be to provide citizens with book vouchers. Several governments have already implemented such measures or are envisaging this kind of plan, and it would be very helpful to make it a generalised policy across the EU. The book sector is traditionally privately financed, with little or no public subsidies. With the crisis, the sector has no choice now but to ask for – at least temporary –public support. All cultural sectors are affected to different degrees by the crisis. The book sector asks to the public authorities to assess the impact and to help each of them as much as possible, with targeted measures to limit the damage and kickstart a recovery. This paper is meant to inform the discussion around the best solutions to help the book sector, and encourage their adoption. The voucher for buying books in bookstores is one important measure that would help revamp the market and inject cash into the system, while at the same time promoting reading; this voucher should be a national programme (ideally supported by the EU Recovery Fund) and will be instrumental to rebuild demand for books. The benefits of reading not only for the cultural development of citizens, but also in terms of improved democratic participation and economic prospects are well known1; moreover, participation in cultural activities, and especially reading and frequenting libraries, are proven factors of resilience to crises2. Development The main objective is to help the recipients of the voucher to buy books at their local bookshops (either at their high street locations or online). Belgium (Flanders), France and Italy have positive experience with such vouchers, which are equivalent to cash in hand for the recipient, using the following models: all 18-year olds (France and Italy), distributed for free by public entities, e.g. to young people attending book fairs (France) or with employers or work councils sponsoring part of the amount (Belgium, Czech Republic and France). For the voucher to achieve positive results, 1 Cfr. Brunello G., Weber G. and Weiss C.T., 2015, “Books are Forever: Early Life Conditions, Education and Lifetime Earnings in Europe”, Economic Journal, vol. 127(600), pp. 271-296. 2 Cellini R. and Cuccia T., 2019. “Do Behaviours in Cultural Markets Affect Economic Resilience? An Analysis of Italian Regions”, European Planning Studies, vol. 27(4), pp. 784-801. it must be easy for booksellers to register and get involved and it must reach its intended beneficiaries quickly. The idea would be to generalise the voucher to either all families, all schooled children, or at least some categories of the population such as all citizens of a certain age, people who are unemployed, etc. We understand that each Member State might assess the needs of its population and how this mechanism can best benefit all. Even if the measure seems only to be viable to be organised at national level3, we would suggest for the EU to recommend such a measure to Member States under the Recovery Fund. 3 If the EU wanted to organise such a measure, for example for 18 year olds, it is estimated that it would have to deliver 5 million vouchers. The administrative burden would be too important. When the Commission decided to offer Interrail to young Europe it had to select 12.000 18 years old.