VAT growth in books brings gloomy prospects for publishers, printing houses and libraries. It is expected that the number of readers, and so small, will decrease drastically. During this time, young people are increasingly oriented on the reading of online books, replacing those in physical format.
Reading in physical form by extinction photo click
In the plan of economic recovery and recovery of the Government’s budget deficit, VAT increase is included from 5% to 11%. Consequently, in a country where the world does not kill with reading, the price will increase considerably. Book publishers, printing houses and librarians expect black times and say the number of readers will decrease drastically. Education specialists, however, say that teenagers, especially those in elite high schools, read like previous generations, only have given up on physical format and prefer those in electronic or audio format.
Romania, the country where readers are an absolute minority
Statistics at European level show that Romanians are not too in love with the book. Most population prefer social networks or any other fun instead of reading. According to Eurostat data, about 29.5 % of Romanians read at least one book in 2022. The remaining over 70 % did not even reach a page. Under these conditions, Romania is the last place at the European Union level regarding the books read. In the first places, as expected, they are among the richest and most civilized states in Europe, ie Luxembourg and Denmark.
The number of Romanians who buy books from bookstores decreases almost year by year. In the first half of the year, the sales of books in Romania decreased by 20%, says Mihai Mitrică, the executive director of the Romanian Editors Association, for Free Europe Romania. And the lack of culture is reflected in society. People prefer to take on unverified information from the Internet, the critical spirit is little developed and swallow on unmixed false information. In these conditions, the appetite for conspiracy theories, pseudo-science and intolerance blooms. According to the Barometer of Cultural Consumption 2022, 94% of young people between the ages of 18 and 35 use the daily internet, and this young segment of the young public manifests a lower level of tolerance, is disinterested in social or civic participation and is less tolerant of certain social categories.
“The Romanians are consumers of culture, neither theater, of music nor reading. So our high degree of intolerance is proportional to our degree of inculturation. At the same time, we are deficient in the education of some values, or that we speak of the education in public education, or the one in the family. Mass education, as well as in the family and at the same time become consumers of culture “to specify the psychologist Mihai Copăceanu for “Adevărul”. The lack of culture and disinterest in the book is also reflected in the large number of Romanians who do not follow any form of education, have no qualification and are not employed in a stable job.
“The effect will be the renunciation of reading”
For some representatives of the publishers and typographies, the increase of VAT when purchasing the book only complicates the situation. Basically, to drive out of readers. At the same time, say typographers, cultural people will limit their editorial appearances precisely for financial reasons. I mean, fewer I read, fewer public.
“It affects us a lot, not only in the book but in any kind of culture work. Prices increase continuously, to cope with the expenses, and the purchasing power will decrease. From my point of view the effect will be the renunciation. And so it was hard to imagine that a man did not allow a book properly. says Mariana Hrițcu, the director of a printers from Botosani. In turn, representatives of small publishers say that it will be difficult for them to resist on the market under the conditions of increasing expenses.
“The very large publishers who already have a monopoly on the market will resist. Small publishers will struggle to withstand a year, two, I do not know how much”confesses the director of Dragoș Lespezeanu Publishing House. And library directors complain, especially because they have to restore book stocks and keep up with new editorial appearances. The purchase budget has remained the same, instead the prices increase continuously. “It is a measure that will affect us negatively. We will have to take into account the criteria for the purchase of the book. And we do not only do a new book purchase but we also aim to develop but also complement the existing collections.”says Ersilia Iacob, director of the “Mihai Eminescu” County Library in Botosani.
“Some will focus on the library, to the loan. But for many young people or active people it is a difficult process. You have to take care of the book, do not forget to bring it back. You have a limit to read. Those who are passionate about the book will read, no matter the price.says a young people who are passionate about culture in Botosani.
Education Specialist: Children read a lot in the online environment
But there is another option. They are young and specialists in education who say that even before the VAT share increase, the young people went to the virtual libraries. It is a digital generation that has replaced the books in physical format with those in electronic format, for reasons for comfort and accessibility. Some specialists in education confess that young people (especially those in good high schools) read as much as those in previous generations, only otherwise.
“Reading does not mean only to open a book in physical format. I know it is the most beautiful thing, but to know that today’s young people read a lot online. Because they have at any time that book we have carried in Ghizodan or purse. Now they have the virtual library that I can access anytime.”says Cristina Bălăucă, teacher and inspector general deputy school.
Adolescents say it’s easier in the online area. I find cheaper books, at a distance of a click and they are no longer forced to do after them. “Obviously, it is much more easy to hold a book in your hand, to smell it. It also gives you an interesting sensation. But we have to think about the practical appearance. Things that in physical format, hard cover, I did not find them.says a 11th grade student from an elite high school in Botosani.
