why it is important that the Parliament supports the draft law on book certificates

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The draft state budget for 2024 provides for funding of the Ukrainian Book Institute in the amount of 466 million 39 thousand hryvnias. Of these, 376 million are planned to be spent on the state aid program in the form of certificates for the purchase of books issued in the state language.

According to the assessment of the Ukrainian Institute of Books, the program of certificates for the public will enable the purchase of more than a million copies of books – so such a program will be mutually beneficial for both publishers and readers. At first, it was assumed that certificates for the purchase of books could be obtained by parents of newborns when obtaining a child’s birth certificate and when obtaining a passport of a citizen of Ukraine at the age of 14.

Focusing on such age categories would allow parents of newborns to accustom their child to books from an early age, and teenagers to have the opportunity to read what interests them. However, the Verkhovna Rada is currently considering draft law No. 9568, which proposes to change the age category of recipients of certificates. The reason is the impossibility of technically ensuring the implementation of certificates for 14-year-olds due to the fact that the bank does not open accounts for minors. Therefore, the age limit was moved up to 18 years.

This is how the war changed the book market in Ukraine – yes, it “went down”, it changed somewhat, but the demand for Ukrainian literature is growing. In 2023, sales of children’s literature by the “Ranok” publishing house fell by 20%, which is due to the departure of a large number of the main target audience (mothers with children) of children’s literature outside of Ukraine. At the same time, the share of sales abroad through the publishing house’s own channels and through partners located both in Ukraine and abroad has increased, but these sales are still many times smaller.

Great attention to our country provoked a rapid increase in sales of copyrights for domestic projects by foreign publishing houses. In particular, in 2021, Ranok publishing house sold 15 titles, in 2022 – 35.

At the same time, with the beginning of a full-scale war, Ukrainians’ interest in literature began to grow. The history and literature of the 20-40 years of the last century, the Ukrainian renaissance that was shot, are particularly popular now. Demand has increased. Both on classics and on modern literature. If we consider the categories of children’s literature, there has been a wild surge in the popularity of various literature about Ukraine. These are historical books for different age categories of children, and books about Ukrainian culture, works of classical Ukrainian authors, and modern Ukrainian authors on the cover have become a guarantee of good sales. Undisputed bestsellers were projects with symbols of the heroic glory of our country – Patronus Dog and Ghost of Kyiv.

Morning books for teenagers and young adults (the so-called “young adults”) show record sales. Back in 2021, we set ourselves a strategic goal of filling and developing these age categories. We are currently seeing success.

In addition to fiction, the demand for educational and developmental literature for preschool and junior high school girls has increased due to the decrease in the level of “separate” education. Parents try to do additional activities with the child.

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Therefore, state support in this matter is very important. The book market expects to stimulate research in the field of book publishing and book distribution, literature and reading; collection, analysis and monitoring of information on the state of the book market; support and recognition of creators of book content, literary critics and reviewers, translators; creation of favorable economic conditions for business development in the field of book publishing and book distribution; ensuring availability and legality of book products; support of digital projects in the field of book publishing; creation of appropriate conditions for the popularization and distribution of Ukrainian books in Ukraine and abroad.

Victor Kruglov, director of Ranok publishing house, specially for UP. Life.

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