"This publication, entitled Book Development in National Communications and Planning, comprises of a basic paper on the role of National Book Development Councils in overall national communication policies and development planning and the two studies on which it is based, namely, Books for the Rural Areas of South Asia and Guidelines for Book Development in South and South-East Asia. As a whole, these give a comprehensive overall picture of the book situation in Asia which is hopefully intended to evoke and stimulate essential public and private sector responses resulting in further concerted national efforts in the development of the book industry trade." (Introduction)