Rising book prices hinder sales growth

In an era of computer and television, rising price of paper and printing was hindering increased sale of books at the Kolkata Book Fair.

In value terms Kolkata Book Fair witnessed a 20 per cent rise in sales every year over the last few year, but the actual rise was five per cent if the higher cost of paper and printing was adjusted.

Cost of raw materials has in fact risen on an average, by 15 per cent in these few years leading to lower growth in book sales, said officials of the Kolkata Book Fair organising committee at the sidelines of a press conference to announce the 2004 fair.

Last year the officials value of books sold through the Book Fair was around Rs 17.5 crore against Rs 13.5 crore in the previous year. Officials also said that there has been a reduction in sale of books on literature which constituted the bulk of the sales in earlier years at the book fair.

Lately there has been a divergence in the trend. "These days sale of books on information technology and other technology related sectors account for the bulk of the volumes sold at the book fair though these were otherwise costly," the officials said.

Meanwhile, Book Fair is also going hi-tech this time. It has roped in Reliance Infocom which will be the Fair's official communication provider. "Book fair can be viewed by five million RIM subscribers across India through R-World, a special feature in Reliance Mobile Phones," said its honorary general secretary Kalyan Shah.

Kolkata based United Bank of India (UBI) has also decided to cash on the opportunity and has floated a loan scheme for book lovers. Borrowers can buy books using UBI loans at nine per cent while students will have to shell out rates of 8.5 per cent. Margin money under the scheme will be five per cent.