Literacy, book publishing and civil society

Abstract

[Introduction]:Despite batteries of tests given at intervals during schooling years, literacy rates among Pacific Islands populations are low, particularly in Melanesia. Low literacy rates are markers not only of inability to read but also of a lack of communication flows. Remedies are scattered and piecemeal at best, dramatically affecting book publishing, an under-rated area of importance for civil society. I use the term civil society here in three senses: • contractually, as in the rights of citizens within states; • representatively, as in peoples' participation in non-governmental activities (both formal associations and non-formal communities) to supplement or to balance states' actions; and • morally, as in the ability of people to discuss their differences (including digitally, electronically, in print and writing), rather than resorting to violence, to settle them. Some coordination exists among different sectors of the book chain -- writers, publishers, booksellers, librarians, teachers, readers -- but the scope for improvement is great. Although some publishers cooperate, by and large, they operate independently if not competitively -- be they governmental agencies, churches and other non-governmental organizations (NGOs), individuals, or groups. Local, national, regional, and international attempts to address information needs through book publishing are often shortsighted and contradictory. The politics and economics of publishing are such that Oceanic peoples are often deprived of resources needed for informed, stable societies.