The programme of professional conferences includes 53 activities and the participation of a hundred experts.
Liber 2024 tackles the impact of AI on the book sector
The impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the book industry will be one of the key topics to be addressed by around two hundred speakers in the 75 sessions planned for Liber 2024, which will be held from 1 to 3 October at Fira de Barcelona’s Gran Via exhibition centre. This event will also address issues such as digitalisation and sustainability, key challenges for a sector that combines tradition and innovation in the creation, publishing and marketing of books.
Organised by the Federation of Spanish Publishers’ Guilds (FGEE), the professional conference of Liber 2024 will explore the latest trends in the sector, such as the use of AI, new sales models, sustainability, the rise of the audiobook, the promotion of reading among children, the present and future of libraries, printing on demand and adaptation to new regulations, among other challenges.
Artificial Intelligence: challenges and opportunities
AI is revolutionising the world of culture and creativity, raising crucial questions: Can it replace the work of professionals such as editors, translators, proofreaders and illustrators? How can it be harnessed to boost creativity and productivity? What are the legal and ethical implications of the use of AI in literary creation? What effects will it have on copyright and intellectual property? Is it possible for AI to match human creative quality?
Several experts will answer these and other questions in various conferences and round tables, analysing the turning point that AI represents in the economy and in society. Among them, Paulo Cosín, editorial director of Ediciones Morata, will reflect on the role of reading as a genuinely human experience, in the face of the transformative impact of AI.
Towards a more sustainable publishing industry
Another major theme will be the alignment of the industry with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the reduction of carbon emissions and the promotion of the circular economy in paper production. Sustainable forest management and practices that balance paper production with the conservation of forest ecosystems will be discussed.
Key industry certifications, such as FSC and PEFC, will also be reviewed, analysing how they ensure the sustainability and traceability of paper. In addition, the procedures for obtaining these certifications in Spain will be addressed, in collaboration with the Subdirectorate General for Forestry Policy and Combating Desertification.
On the other hand, the environmental and economic benefits of printing on demand will be the focus of a conference at which the ‘White Paper on Printing and Distribution on Demand’, drawn up by the Union of National Publishing Distributors (UDNE), will be presented, followed by a round table discussion with experts from the sector.
Among the new developments in the sector, the development of the new DILVE software, the digital platform for the management and distribution of bibliographic and commercial information on books, will be presented. In addition, the recent changes in the ISNI Registration Agency will be explained, which from September 2024 will be managed in Spain by the FGEE, in addition to the National Library and the Spanish Centre for Reprographic Rights (CEDRO).
International presence: Bogotá 2025 and Guadalajara 2024
The Conference will also include preparations for Spain’s participation as guest country at the Bogotá International Book Fair (Filbo) 2025, as well as the presence of Barcelona as Guest City at the Guadalajara International Book Fair (FIL) in 2024. It will also host the presence of Ukrainian and Chilean literature.
About Liber
Recognised internationally as one of the main fairs for the export and promotion of Spanish-language publishing, Liber 2024 will bring together more than 350 publishers and companies from the sector in Barcelona, who will present their catalogues, novelties and services related to the marketing and distribution of books.
Liber 2024 is organised by Fira de Barcelona and promoted by the FGEE, with the sponsorship of the Ministry of Culture, ICEX Exports and Investments, CEDRO, Generalitat de Catalunya, Ajuntament de Barcelona, and the collaboration of Acción Cultural Española (AC/E), the Gremi d’Editors de Catalunya and the Associació d’Editors en Llengua Catalana.
Barcelona, September 2024
Gloria Dilluvio / Maria Dolores Herranz
Tel. 93 233 31 72 – 25 41
gdilluvio@firabarcelona.com