The Taipei International Book Exhibition (TIBE, 台北國際書展)
opened the 14th chapter in its history earlier this week with a bevy of international and local publishing houses once again transforming, albeit temporarily, The Taipei World Trade Center's (TWTC) three exhibition halls into Asia's largest bookstore.
Organized by the Taipei Book Fair Foundation (TBFF, 財團法人台北書展基金會), which is jointly managed by 18 of Taiwan's leading publishing houses and under the auspices of the Government Information Office (GIO, 新聞局), this year's event once again brings together a myriad of varied publishing houses from both home and abroad.
PHOTO: TAIPEI TIMES
Since its conception in 1987, when the event attracted fewer than 70 publishing houses from 11 countries and featured a mere 85 booths, the annual book exhibition has morphed itself into the world's fourth largest book fair. This year a total of 385 local publishing houses and 500 international publishing houses representing 41 countries are displaying their wares in 1,910 booths.
Although this number is slightly down from last year when 877 publishing houses displayed their products in 2,077 booths, organizers don't expect this minor drop in the number of participants to affect the number of visitors. On average the event attracts well over 500,000 bookworms during its weeklong run and this year organizers predict the number to increase by roughly 10 percent.
Unlike previous years, which saw TIBE showcasing works by a single nation, the 14th TIBE is focusing on works by authors from four European countries.
The Culture Pavilion of Four Countries from Europe, which is operating under the theme of "Culture Diversity in Europe," features a series of comprehensive mini-exhibitions focusing on works from France, Germany, Greece and Poland. Authors and representatives from publishing houses from the four European countries will participate in professional seminars, open forums and book signings throughout the duration of the fair.
On a more local note, Taiwan's literary scene will be celebrating its annual Golden Butterfly Awards (金蝶獎), the aim of which is to stimulate creativity.
The popular "Best from Taiwan" section will once again be showcasing several local publications that have been translated and selected to promote domestic works abroad.
As always, the comic-book area is expected to generate a lot of interest amongst the nation's cartoon character loving public. Located in Hall 2 of the TWTC, the area features comic-book publications from Taiwan, Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea and China and will showcase selections of some of the most significant works to come out of Asia last year.
In addition to the colorful reading matter, large numbers of cosplay fans will be on hand, dressed up as their favorite comic book characters and presenting short performances based on comic book stories.
The highlight of the comic book exhibition will be the hugely popular annual Comic Book Awards, when the GIO dishes out prizes to Taiwan's leading comic book artists and creators.
Due to popular demand the children's book section has been given its own exhibition area this year and the entire floor space of the TWTC's number three exhibition hall will showcase children's books from around the world.
Under the theme of "Read to Love and Share," the expanded children's section features a wide range of publications and offers both parents and children the chance peruse the bookshelves and meet several of the nation's leading authors and illustrators of children's publications.
Bookworms
What: Taipei International Book Exhibition (
Where: Taipei World Trade Center Exhibition Halls 1, 2, and 3.
When: Until February 12 from 10am through 6pm everyday
Admission: Tickets cost NT$100 for adults and NT$50 for children
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