TEHRAN -- Iranian Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Mohammad Hosseini suggested that people spend a portion of their cash subsidies which is credited to their accounts for buying books.

Paying cash subsidies to people is the first stage of implementing the subsidy reform plan which envisages the elimination of subsidies on fuel, energy, and certain goods over the course of five years.
The amount of the cash subsidy for each person is set at about 40 dollars. By now the accounts of people in some provinces have been credited but the money can not be withdrawn as yet.
Over 70 state and private organizations are cooperating in holding Iran Book Week programs this year, Hosseini mentioned in a press conference on Monday.
Some 40,000 book exhibits in 4,0000 schools, 1,000 book showcases in 1,000 mosques and exhibitions in Iranian cultural attaché’s offices in specific countries will be held during the week, he said.
He also asked people to donate books that they no longer want to cultural centers during this week.
The books purchased for public libraries and cultural centers will be increased to 65,000 books. “We can not buy the all books that have been published. Besides, some books frankly are not worth buying with money from treasury,” he said.
He went on to say that 32,178 books were published over the last seven months which is an increase in comparison to the previous year.
Hosseini said that some unauthorized books are imported to Iran via custom houses and they are distributed in the Iranian book market, which is an illegal act.
Seven provinces will hold exhibitions with theme of “Proximity and Unity” under the supervision of Iran’s Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, which is mainly dedicated to academic texts.
Golestan, Hormozgan, Kordestan, Southern Khorasan, Qom and Ilam are some of the provinces.
The Iranian Library and Information Science Association will hold six meetings for students and researchers in the Goft-o-Gu Park in Tehran.
Iran’s Physical Education Organization will hold a book exhibit on sport and physical education. It is noteworthy that 50 sport clubs are equipped with libraries and reading rooms.
Three metro stations Imam Khomeini, Molavi and Panzdah-e Khordad will offer books to students free of charge.
The 18th Iran Book Week will be held from November 14 to 21 with the motto of “Reading, Thought and Wisdom” in different cities of Iran.