During the 11th general gathering of Iranian Library and Information Science Association, Ali-Akbar Ashari, director of Book Garden Project, announced upcoming inauguration of book sale network in the country, accordingly any citizen can search books on the portal of Book Garden and then fetch it in the nearest book sale center.

IBNA: The 11th general gathering of Iranian Library and Information Science Association was held on Wednesday  (April 18) with the presence of Ali-Akbar Ashari, director of Book Garden Project, Saeid Rezayi Sharif Abadi head of Iranian Library and Information Science Association and a number of professors and librarianship students at the National Library of Iran. 

At the outset, Ashari presented a report of the formation and development of Book Garden Project saying "Having a perennial location allocated to Iranian and foreign publishers in Iran has been an obsession of the literati and cultural authorities for long. The idea of a book garden was first approved by the previous team of the municipality of Tehran and the project is estimated to be completed by the end of the present year." 

Ex-director of the National Library of Iran continued: "The Book Garden will have four main sections: one is given to the presentation and sale of all available books with access to old books and possibility of printing them for visitors." 

He mentioned the children's section as another main part of the project: "This section has a vast area occupying one and a half stories of the Book garden. Parents can take their children to this part and wander among books for children." He also said that every two hours there will be a special program for different age groups. 

Ashari continued: "Another section of the Book Garden will be devoted to specific books. Academic Books Exhibition will be located here." 

Elaborating of the fourth main section of the garden, Ashari said: "The fourth section presents all facilities for easier and better book reading." 

Ashari added that the project includes the construction of six conference halls, four lateral halls and a roofless hall as well. Moreover, the books will be classified in 16 subcategories by subject and each category will have a particular design, color and architecture of its own depending on the subject. 

Ashari also stressed that the Book Garden will have no bookseller: "In the Book Garden we only have councilors who will guide visitors to make the best book choices. Only experts will be invited to work here that have all necessary information of a reference librarian." 

He also announced the launching of the portal of the Book Garden and said: "Any visible part of the Book Garden will be accessible through the portal. Moreover, a book sale network will be launched for the first time in the country so that each citizen can easily refer to the portal, search his intended book, and fetch it from the nearest bookselling center. All bookstores will be linked to this central portal." 

Calling the Book garden as an ideal place for organizing all book-related activities – from performances to educational workshops – Ashari also emphasized on the necessity to activate book associations and unions and expressed hope that librarianship could be scientifically organized in the country under the supports of a central association. 

Finally Ashari invited all librarians to visit the Book Garden on May 17.

Id : 134778