The 12th Slovenian Book Days in Ljubljana kicked off at the Zvezda Park on Monday, World Book Day. Speaking at the opening, Culture Minister Vasko Simoniti said that books were the anchor of culture and a source of answers to essential questions.
That is why the book has to be protected, the minister said, adding that the ministry supported the founding of the Public Agency for the Book, which would strengthen the position of the book, this "magical and dangerous creature", in Slovenia and abroad.
Vlado Zabot, the head of the Slovenian Writers Association, welcomed the idea of the agency and presented some statistics. He said that 12 books were published and some 60,000 were borrowed from libraries in Slovenia every day. Some 20,000 Slovenians write, including the president and prime minister, he added.
The award for the best short story, conferred by the Slovenian Writers' Association and journal Sodobnost as part of the festival, went to Matej Bogataj for his "Kako sem noro te ljubila" (How I Madly Loved You).
The centre of the festival in Ljubljana is the fair at Zvezda Park, where book lovers will have a chance to buy books by some 70 publishing houses at bargain prices by Friday.
Beside the fair, the festival will also feature panels, screenings of Slovenian films based on books, radio plays, children's programme and concerts.
The 10th Slovenian Book Days in Maribor kicked off last Wednesday. Events will also be held in several other cities and towns around Slovenia, including Celje, Jesenice, Koper, Sezana, Novo Mesto, and Velenje.
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