TEHRAN -- Iran’s Culture Minister Muhammad-Mehdi Esmaeili said on the sidelines of the ‎‎33rd Tehran International Book Fair (TIBF) that the next edition of the event will also ‎be held in both physical attendance and virtual formats. ‎
It is the first time after two years that the Tehran International Book Fair is held in both in physical and virtual spaces.
Earlier, due to the outbreak of COVID-19, two editions of the Tehran Virtual Book Fair were held for the first time to meet the demands of Iranian publishers, authors, translators, book activists and of course people. The virtual event was born out of TIBF.
This is a new experience, the minister said, stressing that changes should be made to the way of organizing and holding TIBF after 33 editions.
The next priority, he said, is to provide easy access to books for all Iranians.
“Therefore, this experience will be reiterated in provincial, periodic and other forms of book fairs. On the other hand, holding book fairs with special themes is the other approach that could be seriously considered and planned.”
The 33rd Tehran International Book Fair opened on May 11 and will run until May 21 at the Mosalla (Grand Prayer ‎Grounds) of Imam ‎Khomeini.
Over 1700 Iranian as well as 170 foreign publishers have attended the event. The motto of the edition of Tehran International Book Fair is: “With Book, We Stay Safe”. Qatar with a group of publishers is the guest of honor of the event.