Albanian publishers to join in Tirana 2011 book fair

TIRANA, Oct. 20 – More than eighty publishers from Albania, Kosovo and Macedonia have confirmed their participation in the 14th edition of the Tirana book fair, the biggest annual book event which brings together Albanian publishing houses.
The book fair is scheduled for November 9 to 13 at the Palace of Congresses in Tirana, the usual venue, says the Albanian Publishers Association.
The Albanian Book Association, a rival organization, has expressed its dissatisfaction with the organization of this fair, complaining about increased stand prices and efforts to reduce the presence of big publishing houses which have left the Albanian Publishers Association.
The Albanian Book Society says it plans to organize another book fair next spring. Prizes, including best author, best translator and best children’s book, are expected to be awarded in this edition.
Last year’s Tirana book fair event, attracted a record 60,000 visitors with an estimated 200,000 books reported to have been sold.
Earlier this year, Albanian book fairs were also held in Montengro’s Ulcinj, Kosovo’s Prizren and Skopje, Macedonia.