Chairman of the General Authority for Book to YT: Printing books for creative budding writers and setting up public libraries in governorates is our prime concern. [Archives:2000/39/Culture]

The General Authority for Book carries out commendable tasks that are visibly reflected on the numerous books published within a short span of time. Of its achievements, a good number of libraries were set up in some governorates of the Republic. Mr. Khaled Abdullah al-Ruwaishan, chairman of the General Authority for Book for the past four years, worked in the cultural section of the Presidency office for ten years before. Ismail al-Ghabri of Yemen Times met with him and filed the following interview:
Q: What are the major activities carried out by the G.A.B.?
A: The authority focused on two important pivots; the first is to print Yemeni books and the second is to set up public libraries in governorates.
We print the books that are related to culture, history, those by creative writers and those which are of interest to the people. We also pay heed to establishing libraries in governorates that was not considered in the past few years. This was actually our major task for the past few years.
Q: What are the major achievements of the authority?
A: We have made laudable strides in terms of printing the Yemeni Book and in establishing libraries in governorates. We are also about to receive 20 book titles now under printing including a book by sociologist Abdulrahman bin Khaldoon. We have collected about 750 pages all about Yemen. This information was taken from a book of his. It was part of a book in which he talked about Arab history. It is certain that this book contains a treasure of information as it explains in detail events that happened in Yemen in the 4th, 5th, and the sixth centuries.
Another book that we have printed is From Copenhagen to Sanaa that was translated by Mohammed al-Raadi. It narrates a trip made by some Danish researchers and scientists in 1750. They came to Mokka and then moved towards Sanaa in a fatal trip that claimed lives of all the researchers except one survival, their leader who wrote his memoirs in this book.
The authority is also interested in printing books for the creative budding writers so as to encourage and support them. The authority has inaugurated last week the House of Culture located in the Book House in Sanaa. This place will focus on cinema, theater, music, and songs. In this house, books will also be displayed for sale. An exhibition for plastic artists is set up in the second floor. There is a plastic art exhibition composing more than 20 artists on show these days.
Besides, the House of Culture inaugurated last month by the President is also another catalyst for the Yemeni culture to grow and prosper.
Q: What has the authority provided for children?
A: Honestly speaking, we lack creative writers who write for children. However, to overcome this problem, the authority has been exerting efforts to buy all that is of interest and is related to children from the Arab world. These books are cultural, educational and scientific and entertaining. Thus, we allocate a special section for children in each library affiliated to the authority in the different governorates of the Republic.
Q: You have already mentioned that you opened libraries in many governorates of the Republic. Will you elaborate on that?
A: These libraries have been a feather on the cap of the authority. We were amazed to see the growing number of those who frequently visit these libraries. An illustration in point is the library that was opened in Dhamar. We opened this library and equipped it with 40 chairs for those who are interested to come and read. To our amazement, library visitors were far much exceeding this number. Most of them sit on the floor to read. It is surprising to say that numbers of those who visit this library are more than those who visit Sanaa libraries.
Q:What is the role of the authority for supporting budding creative writers, males and females?
A: A matter of fact, 80% of the authority activities is focused on budding creative writers. We also try our best to enhance spread their works in libraries in governorates.
The authority also buys books of creative writers, poets, short-story writers, and novelists. By this we do as best as we can to give them a push to continue their literary career.
The authority has already printed 40 books and we are going to print 60 others in the coming months.
Q: What are the major difficulties the authority faces?
A: Our society suffers an administrative crisis. It is not only found in this authority. However, it is found in all government institutions of the country. We do cherish the idea that the ministry of Finance will re-consider the importance of developing the awareness of people in terms of allotting more money and privileges to writers so as to print and publish more books. It is only through books that we can promote their awareness.
Q: Any final word you want to add?
A: I hope that there will be a strong development in the literary movement area and that conditions of writers will be improved to produce more and more. On our part, in the authority, we will keep no stone unturned according to the resources available for us.

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