"Sam Kotei’s book was one of the first major in-depth studies on the state of the book and publishing in Africa, in which the author looked back on a decade of special efforts to alleviate the “acute shortage of books” identified at the UNESCO meeting on books in Accra in 1968. The author note
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s that progress was uneven and that many of the problems identified in 1968 still remained, although African publishing had generally made “impressive strides”. The author surveyed the available literature, questioned writers, publishers, printers, libraries, bookshops, national book development councils, and interviewed book industry professional in several African countries in order to produce this overview of the situation in the 1970s and 1980s. Concludes with an examination of the future prospects of the book industry in Africa. Kotei’s book remains a seminal study, not least for purposes of comparison as it relates to the growth of the African book industries since the 1980s." (Hans M. Zell, Publishing, Books & Reading in Sub-Saharan Africa, 3d ed. 2008, nr. 290)
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"A classic study that presents a summary of the findings of international research concerning the reading habit, drawing on sources from all over the world. Surveys studies of reading habits in many parts of the world, the effective teaching of reading, results of research on motivation for reading,
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factors which influence reading interests, the promotion of developing reading interests, and suggests some avenues for future research." (Hans M. Zell, Publishing, Books & Reading in Sub-Saharan Africa, 3d ed. 2008, nr. 2158)
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"The recommandations, summaries of the various sessions, and a selection of the papers read at this conference attended by more than 100 African writers, publishers, booksellers, librarians, printers, and teachers give a succinct account of the history and hopes of African publishing. Among topics d
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iscussed are the cultural and social factors of book reading and publishing in Africa; a frank explanation as to why indigenous publishing has trouble getting started; the mechanics of acquiring library materials - African and otherwise; the role of government; the role of Christian publishing houses; and the problems faced by writers, distributors, and booksellers." (Eleanor Blum, Frances G. Wilhoit: Mass media bibliography. 3rd ed. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1990 Nr. 1095)
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"This study aims 'to assess the needs of Ethiopia which can be met by Christian literature in Ethiopian and English languages, to evaluate the extent to which the present programs minister to these needs, and to make rcommendations for the future dealing with all relevant aspects and in particular w
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ith production, distribution and methods of training' (foreword). It is based on an 'initial readership survey of Ethiopia' and a bookshop survey." (commbox)
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