T

he Association of Indonesian Publishers (IKAPI) Jakarta promoted the slogan “Books Changed My Life” as it opened the 21st Jakarta Book Fair at Istora indoor stadium at the Gelora Bung Karno sports complex in Central Jakarta on Saturday.

“With books we are able to change our lives for the better,” organizing committee chief Mappa Tutu said in the opening ceremony of the book fair, which will last until July 10.

The nine-day book fair involves the participation of 119 book publishers and boasts 240 stands, many of which offer books at discount prices.

“This is the time and place not only for promoting books, but it is a time of festivity for book lovers,” Mappa said.

This year a mathematics olympics and a wall magazine competition, among a host of other activities, had been prepared by organizers to entertain visitors.

Deputy Jakarta Governor Prijanto praised IKAPI for the hard work that has gone in to preparing and running the book fair. “How about organizing these kinds of events more often?” Prijanto suggested. “This is very beneficial for the public,” he added.

“The theme chosen for this year’s book fair is perfect,” Prijanto said. “You change lives with books, but only if you read them, not only buy them and put them on shelves,” he said.

IKAPI also presented six Jakarta Book Awards during the opening ceremony to successful authors they considered to have managed to “share knowledge and change lives through books”.

The names listed for the awards were: Iwan Setyawan, JJ Rizal, Ligwina Hananto, Pandji Pragiwaksono, Sri Izzati, Fahma and Hania Rohmansyah. (awd)