Mohsen Haji Zeinolabedini
Head of the National Reading Promoters Network & Faculty member of LIS, Shahid Beheshti University
Organizing programs for reading promotion and establishing related events – such as Reading Mondays at kindergartens and preschool centers, Cup of Reading Clubs for Children and Young Adults, Festival for Appreciating Reading Promoters and Clubs, Designation of Iranian Book Capital and Festival for Bibliophile Villages of Iran with its special feature helping reading to flourish – are all invaluable activities for book promotion in Iran. But regarding an Iranian social characteristic, being a ‘short-term society’ as some historical sociologists call it, the continuity of these events necessities institutionalization and changing such a movement into a public demand by public groups for reading promotion and paving the way for their participation and presence in public policy makings.
The scientific committee of the festival consists of five main members who are selected from experts, professors, and book and reading activists. These referees were from the faculty members or critics, writers, literary prize winners, editors of publications, and pioneers in the field of library and information science.
The criteria include:
- Sustainability in impact
- Creativity and innovation
- Attracting popular participation
- Being volunteering
- Creative use of existing facilities
- Attention to deprived areas
- Consistency with native culture
- Modeling capability
