More than 50 conferences and over 100 experts will analyze the challenges, growth opportunities and new business models that are emerging for the publishing sector in this new context, during the October International Book Fair.
Technological development has revolutionized publishing and marketing books . At the Liber 2012 Side Events, which will be held during the fair (October 3-5,) over 100 experts will analyze the challenges, growth opportunities and new business models that are emerging in the publishing sector.
With the slogan "Towards a new publishing industry", this year's Liber Side Events will include over 50 conferences, workshops and round table debates. These educational activities will reveal the latest trends on the book market and the implications of technology in the entire book chain and, in particular, in the transformation of the traditional business model of publishing companies and book shops.
The Liber Side Events will also be a meeting point for the sector to debate collaboration with libraries; the redefinition of relations between agents, publishers and authors; other marketing methods to attract readers; on-demand printing; self-publishing and the price of digital books.
Experts from publishing companies and book shops, technology firms, consultants and representatives from Spanish, European and Latin American institutions and organizations linked to the book industry will be participating.
More internationalism
The presence of several hundred guests from twenty five countries considered to be priority markets reflects the growing importance of Liber as the most important professional Spanish-language book fair. The event has become a leading showcase to boost the expansion of Spanish publishing companies in foreign markets.
During 2011, Spanish book exports grew to 482.44 million Euros, 5.38% more than 2010. The positive contribution of the Spanish book sector's balance was 262.31 million Euros compared to 233.21 million recorded in 2010 (+11%).
The Liber Side Events will also be focusing on the other side of the Atlantic with round table debates on the international promotion of authors as well as conferences on Spanish as a global language. There will also be sessions dedicated to the publication of books from specific Latin American countries and the status of electronic books in Latin America, as well as different activities related to the visit of a delegation of over 60 librarians from the United States.
Presence of the digital book
Already a feature at the 2011 fair, Liber will also focus on the development of digital books in Spain. Over three days, various experts will analyze issues being debated in the sector, such as what the correct price of digital books should be, the challenges of intellectual property in the digital sphere and the new contracts for digital publishing. New forms of marketing by new technologies will also be analyzed.
Other activities
On the occasion of its 30th anniversary, Liber will set the scene for the space "Conversations with..." in which publishers, authors and other figures from the world of publishing will share their experiences and opinions on books and the publishing industry with the public and communications media. Jorge Herralde and Guillermo Fesser will be among the participants.
The Side Events programs will include the Annual Publishing Meeting with the e-learning sector, which is organized by the Asociación Española de Formación Online (AEFOL). Specific collaboration proposals will be offered and e-learning trends applicable to text books will be presented.
The Liber program will also feature presentations of sector studies; round tables on the role of libraries and awards ceremonies. The traditional Liber Fiesta (October 2nd, the night before the show opens) will host exhibitors' main clients and political and cultural figures to celebrate the 30th anniversary of this International Book Fair, the most important event in Spanish-language publishing.
To see the complete calendar of events, click here. For more information about Liber 2012, click here.
