Polish book market dips by 2 percent

Photo: Glowimages

The study, which was published by the Biblioteka Analiz magazine, reveals that revenues fell to 2.66 billion zloty (635.6 million euro) in 2012.

“The good times are already behind us,” the magazine declared concerning the data.

“The main reasons for the decline in book sales are the current economic situation and the low level of literacy [in the country],” commented Grzegorz Gauden, head of Poland's Book Institute, in an interview with the Dziennik Polski paper.

“Prices of books are relatively high, especially those of new ones,” he added.

“So it's hardly surprising that books are disappearing from people's lists of most needed items,” he argued.

Poland's economy is slowing quarter by quarter. The growth rate saw a significant overall drop last year, to 2 percent, compared with 4.3 per cent growth of 2011. Unemployment is gradually rising.

Meanwhile, although Gauden argued that publishers “should not be afraid of the internet,” as it provides an invaluable tool for promoting products, he stressed that problems with piracy exist.

Not least, the current 23 percent VAT on electronic publications “promotes piracy, unfortunately,” he argued, adding “changes are necessary on this point.” (nh)

Source: Dziennik Polski