The current connections between the library and bookselling activity with an overview of the public library development

Abstract

ABSTRACTAmong the set goals of improving book consumption in Slovenia the National Culture Program 2004-2007 also includes encouraging the development of network of bookshops and ‘quality’ bookshops, that will be evenly distributed across Slovenia. The program suggests them to be formed within the framework of already existing public cultural institutions. Book consumption in Slovenia has been characterised by poorly developed retail book market and well developed network of public libraries with a high number of book lendings that serves as a substitute for the paperback market as it is known in bigger language communities abroad. Along with surveying the possibilities of directing the libraries towards book marketing (as well), the paper also examines the historical development of commercial publishing companies / bookshops / libraries, existing in Europe in 18th and 19th century and in some places existing side by side with public libraries until the middle of 20th century. The paper shows that the present ratio between bookshops and libraries on some big book markets is different than in Slovenia, as libraries are loosing patrons as a consequence of the growth of big bookshop chains. A characteristic feature of book consumption in Slovenia can be seen in the use of the internet in libraries as well as bookshops. The ‘merging’ of the marketing segment and book lending is to a smaller extent already under way abroad, where large online bookshops encourage libraries by means of provision to act as the mediator in the sale of books. In this way, a library can turn into a bookshop with the help of connections via ISBN numbers, without having to jeopardise their original mission.