Hello

The 15th Delhi Book Fair is first of all a fair - a mela. It is a retail event where all types of publishers from around the country come to sell their books to the diverse population of approximately 15 million in Delhi the National Capital Region. It is a chance for families to have an educational and recreational outing at the centrally located Pragati Maidan fairgrounds.

Nevertheless some professional publishers also try to invest the event with a larger purpose - apart from the book readings and author signings to help sell books - to the exchange of ideas and the networking that is essential to not only expand the trade in books but also to make it more productive and profitable for everyone involved. The issue is whether to continue slow and uncertain growth or to try and purposively (and thus collectively) give a serious push to book publishing industry.

Of course our various associations will have to do a better job of this whole thing. Otherwise a professional and competent organiser will seize the opportunity to organise a great book fair for what with all its politics and problems is becoming a real city. Real cities or agglomerations such as Delhi want real book fairs with all their complexities.

On 31 August 2009, Kitab is organising a copyright symposium and German Book Office will hold an illustration workshop for children's books. Later in the afternoon, the GBO and Capexil will also hold a discussion for Frankfurt Book Fair participants. The first issue of our book fair newsletter — Content & Media will also come out on 31 August at the DBF.

At our Delhi Book Fair location - Hall 12A Stand 16, Indian Printer and Publisher together with Quark will demonstrate some aspects of book design and production. Quark will be demonstrating Quark Xpress 8 and their optional software add-on for typesetting of mathematical equations. Come by the stand to discuss the latest technology issues in book production. Itu Chaudhuri will speak on 1 September at 4pm on typography and book design while NS Manku will speak on Excellence in Book Binding on 3 September.

We will also produce the IFRA Gazette show daily at the Chennai Conference and Expo at Chennai on 24 and 25 September 2009. The show itself is from 23 to 25 with some special seminars on 22 September. Meanwhile, have a look at our three blogs — Print Asia, Print Experts Asia Pacific, and Content and Media AP. The addresses are respectively www.indianprinterpublisher.blogspot.com, www.printexperts.blogspot.com and www.contentmediaap.blogspot.com. Do comment and let us know if you want to join any of the blogging teams.

Give us some feedback on these newsletters. You can do this by email or give us a call. If you think it is useful please pass it on to your friends. We suggest that you include newsletter@ippgroup.in in your address book or otherwise make sure our newsletter gets through to you and not your junk mail box. However if you do not want the newsletter please use the unsubscribe option at the bottom.

Our magazine, email newsletters and websites need support in terms of feedback, information and advertising. In order to advertise, you can contact Rahul Puri in Noida at ads2@ippgroup.in and +91-9999115815, and Gregory Alvares at +91-9821286704 and marketing@ippgroup.in in Mumbai. European supporters may contact Michael Seidl at +43-67664109330 and m.seidel@printernet.at.

Regards, Naresh Khanna editor@ippgroup.in, +91-120-2540258 extension 10