International Book Festival opens in Bogota

[naaman fletcher]

Readers, authors and publishing industry players gathered in Bogota before the opening of the 23rd International Book Festival at midday Wednesday.

Over 400,000 visitors are expected to attend this year's event which will be based around the theme "First Encounters between the Paper and the Digital."

The festival, considered the third-largest publishing event in Latin America, seeks to bring together publishers, graphic designers, stakeholders, distributors and other literary industry players to promote reading through "high quality cultural programming." It is estimated that 95% of the Andean nation's publishing industry will attend the event.

Domestic and foreign experts will share their knowledge on the marketing and distribution of digital books and discuss the challenges, possibilities and opportunities created by the digital industry on the written text.

Topics covered will include social networks, web 2.0, forms of licensing, virtual education and the rise and role of cultural journalism. Also on offer is the chance to participate in over 700 different activities.

Colombia will be represented by known experts including Jaime Ivan Hurtado, social commentator and journalist and web development expert Daniel Navas Corona, director of Total Paper, Latin America's largest virtual library.

As well as discussing the future of the digital age, the festival also seeks to inspire reflection on national identity, to coincide with the commemoration of the Bicentennial of Colombia's independence.

Bogota's 23rd annual book festival will take place from August 11 to August 23 in the city's Corferias events hall. It will be open to the public 10AM to 8PM daily. Adults COP8.000 children COP3.000.

http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/culture/11284-international-book-festival-set-to-open-in-bogota-.html