"We need to match demographics; it's like demand and supply; there's actually a real interest in reading," Irene said when met by the media at the Karya Raya event in Jakarta on Friday.
She stated that Indonesians actually have a high interest in reading. This is evident in the busy Jakarta Library, which is open until late at night and receives 3,000 visitors daily.
Furthermore, the library's contemporary concept can also attract people to visit and read free books, such as those offered at the bookstore in the Blok M area, which is now a popular destination for young people.
However, Irene emphasized that libraries run by community-based organizations or non-profit organizations should pay attention to the continuity between readers and the books they provide.
Irene believes that people will find it difficult to enjoy reading books if the books they read do not match their interests, adding that there is no harm in creating a habit of reading books starting from reading comics.
She said the Ministry of Creative Economy will continue to support the book ecosystem, from printing, publishing, and distribution, to ensuring the welfare of authors through royalties.
Irene also wants to ensure that authors, from young to those with extensive works, consider using their work as a source of income to keep the economy going, for example by selling licenses abroad.
"We have a special directorate for publishing. This shows how serious the Ministry of Creative Economy is about exploring the publishing sector," Irene said.
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Translator: Fitra Ashari, Cindy Frishanti Octavia
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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