Book Fair promises quality, variety and opportunities for the development
Guatemala: 
The International Book Fair in Guatemala- FILGUA 2008 - to be held from July the 25th to August the 3rd, in Guatemala's Parque de la Industria, is still more than a month away, but expectations are high, but novelties and features, also.
Sergio Ramirez, of Nicaragua; Ana Cristina Rossi, Tatiana Lobo and Osvaldo Sauma of Costa Rica; Horacio Castellanos Moya, Jacinta Escudos, Rafael Menjívar Ochoa and Carlos Clará of El Salvador; Jorge Medina García, of Honduras; Melanie Taylor, Jose Luis Rodriguez Pitti and Gloria Guardia of Panama; David Unger, resident Guatemalan writer in New York, Marta Casaús, Odette Canivel, Eduardo Halfon, and Marco Antonio Flores of Guatemala, among others, have already confirmed their participation. From outside the region one must emphasize the presence of Carlos Monsiváis and Heraclio Zepeda, who will be sponsored by Mexico's publisher Fondo de Cultura Económica. The confirmation of writers and artists from Argentina is expected soon, since special guest country to the Fair, a confirmation is expected soon.
The Fair, whose main objective is to promote free circulation of books in the Central American region expects the presence of at least 15 writers of the neighboring countries, and at least 20 Guatemalans, men and women who, during 10 days will have the opportunity to present/display their more recent literary production (fiction, nonfiction poetry, in addition to those books of social scientific matters.
"Guatemalans are eager to know and to grow", Figueroa Sarti said, and FILGUA is an opportunity to reach that goal. How? Developing a network of bookstores and of the publishing industry, seeding libraries in every corner of the country", to mention only three examples.
It is by means of reading, that development can be promoted and that is why FILGUA bets to a country of readers, and has done of this it's main motto. Thus the publisher explains: "The person who reads can increase his or her capability. Today's world is exactly a society of knowledge. There is no another industry as the books, that contributes in a better way to increase this capability of humans, not only to learn, but also to think".
BOOKS IN GUATEMALA
Although in Guatemala, no State policy considers the book as a fundamental element for social, cultural, economic and political development, an increasing interest has been endorsed in the past few years and spaces in which books are the central element have been developed: new publishing houses have emerged. The imports of reading material have grown in the last three years to a rate higher than 8%. Similar is the rate of growth of family expenses in newspapers, books and documents. Demand of public libraries' services has grown in local communities. The annual production of new titles has increased as well. The International Book Fair has gradually consolidated its image as a well recognized space of reference for Guatemala and the Central American region. In 2006, the National Policy of Books and libraries was approved, with wide participation of civil society representatives.
GUATEMALA:
ERECENT VOLUCIÓN OF
PRODUCTION OF NEW BOOK TITLES
Source: National agency of ISBN
GUATEMALA:
RECENT EVOLUCIÓN OF THE IMPORTS
OF READING MATERIAL
Source: Sieca - Central American Economic Integration Secretary (for its abbreviation in Spanish).
The International Central American Literature Conference and other features
The International Central American Literature Conference , the Central American Writers Meeting , a Children's Literature Symposium, a History Teaching Conference , seminars for librarians and booksellers, are activities that will be held for the first time in a Book Fair in Guatemala. On July the 28th and 29th, the Conference will host participants of 11 countries. It will become an ideal space to approach publishers, academics and writers and promote a greater knowledge of regional authors.
To cause greater outreach of contemporary Central American literature, to favor a greater knowledge of literature in each one of the countries, and by means of cultural exchange, to contribute to Central American regional integration, are some specific goals on of this Conference, in which about 48 regional academics and writers will discuss related subjects.
The Writers Meeting
From July the 28th to July the 30th, authors mentioned above will also participate in the Writers Meeting. To favor mutual knowledge among contemporary Central American writers, to create cultural communication channels between countries, to favor the encounter between European editors and Central American authors aiming to obtain greater projection of literature in the region and abroad.
The International Book Fair in Guatemala - FILGUA -, organized by the Editors Guild, affiliated to Guatemala's Chamber of Industry, and sponsored by diverse national and international organizations and companies took place for the first time in 2000, and has been held every two years. In 2006 it offered Guatemala and the Central American region a space of cultural exchange- besides promoting the publishing industry that grows remarkably- and became the most important cultural activity of the year. In 2006, the attendance, verified by means of the entrance ticket sales to the Fair, was of 32 thousand people: an increase of more than 50% in relation to the 20 thousand visitors of 2004. One hopes that in 2008, this number increases much more.
