Tech draws kids to reading
Social media can become an effective tool in promoting sustainable reading behaviour among younger generations, says Publishers and Booksellers Associations of Thailand (Pubat).
If people use social media in the right way, it will be one of the most effective tools promoting reading among the younger generation, said Pubat president Suchada Sahasakul.
She said traditional books, especially pocket books, need to seriously adapt to people’s changing behaviour.
“Teenagers and kids are likely to read novels, Japanese manga, graphic novels and light novels, and these kinds of books can potentially be promoted on social media channels,” Ms Suchada said. Marketing of books should also be done via social media, she said.
This year, publishing houses will make changes to reduce costs, publishing only niche products to serve targeted groups while maintaining their operation cost, Ms Suchada said.
“More people buy pocket books online and pre-order sales have become more popular in the digital era,” she said.
The sales volume of physical books has not declined but has simply moved to online purchasing, Ms Suchada said.
The book publishing business faces an oversupply because of publishing the same kinds of books and too much emphasis on trends, she said. Demand and supply do not match.
Ms Suchada voiced optimism about the book business this year, saying publishers already know what to do to survive.
“We will see more bookstores renovate, adding learning spaces or activities to draw in more customers,” she said.
This year, Pubat plans to expand its book events to major provinces to encourage reading among younger people.