S A BOOK COUNCIL
Associations in Johannesburg

Formerly known as the Print Industries Cluster Council (PICC), the SABDC is the representative body of the South African Book Sector. The SABDC has many achieved much over the course over the past decade. The operational team is small but dedicated and has hosted numerous workshops, commissioned and directed research, analysed data, published reports, implemented a hugely successful nationwide reading promotion campaign, published an indigenous languages catalogue and hosted high profile digital technology summit. Establishing and maintaining a national representative body for the book sector with committed industry and cultural experts. Market Analysis through the National Reading Survey 2006 on the reading activity of adult South Africa to inform all activities across the book value chain. Costing Analysis through the Cost of Books Study outlining the factors contributing to the cost of books and recommendations across the value chain. The core purpose of the SABDC is to increase access to and the consumption of book and print media. Through ongoing research and strategic planning sessions with stakeholders across the book value chain, key challenges to the industry are identified and prioritised. Working committees are set up to address these challenges. This can result into research projects, funding to support development initiatives and/or meetings with decision and policy makers to advocate for changes to grow the book industry. Each of the working committees are represented across the sectors of the book industry. Through various committees and working groups, the SABDC has moved beyond an industry body, with all major stakeholders informing the strategic direction. A Transformation Committee was set up at this meeting to facilitate the development of a transformation framework for the sectors across the book value chain. A greater need for indigenous products has been called for from all stakeholders and an integrated strategy, together with the Reading Campaign and a National Book Policy will pave the way to realise a conducive environment for growth. The SABDC realises that the most challenging barrier to growth and development is a lack of a reading culture. As long as the reading and book buying population remains small, no other strategies will be successful. A phased national reading campaign therefore forms the cornerstone of all other strategies. Since 2002 the SABDC LTSM working group focussed on issues relating to the effective provision of textbooks, with the aim of ensuring coordinated textbook procurement across provinces. The group worked on a framework timing textbook submission, ordering, production and delivery through facilitating communication across the print industry value chain, and between industry and government. Lack of reliable information as to the nature and scope of the industry along the value chain is a key challenge to growing the industry. Research has been identified as a priority and much of the SABDC’s efforts and funds are geared towards this activity. Funds were made available for this research, which was conducted across nine provinces. The SABDC Library Working Group also implemented research on adult education activities at public libraries around the countries. This study is part of a broader initiative to identify policy and development needs in the cultural industries.