New publications show significant decline

According to a statement issued yesterday by the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC), approximately 588 books and 29 periodicals were slated for publication last year. The figures, which are issued in accordance with membership regulations of the International Standard Book Number (ISBN), show a decrease of 134 books (-18.6 percent) and an increase of three periodical titles (+11.5 percent) in comparison with the previous year, 2015.

Moreover, in 2016, 447 publications were submitted to the Macau Central Library collection under the Legal Deposit Regime, including 381 titles applying for ISBN.

Last year, a total of 41 publishers submitted new applications under the ISBN system, including four governmental departments, one school, nine commercial organizations, 18 civic organizations, eight individuals and one other “special group”. This brings the cumulative total of publishers in the territory up to 852, representing a 13-fold increase compared with the 62 publishers registered when the Macau component of the ISBN Agency was founded in 2000.

Meanwhile, compared with the growth measured last year, the data shows that the development of Macau’s publishing industry was influenced by the state of the economy – specifically gaming – and therefore did not grow as rapidly in the past two years when compared to the years before that.

The number of newly- published books last year decreased to levels almost equal to that of 2012 and 2013, noted the IC in its statement. The slowdown is despite a growth in the awareness of ISBN application for publishers in the territory, the bureau said.

“The international standardization of book publication has greatly strengthened the ability to bring Macau books to the international market,” wrote the IC commenting on the introduction of the ISBN system in Macau about 17 years ago.

To apply for ISBN, applicants can download an application form from the Macau ISBN Agency website, isbn.library.gov.mo, and submit the completed application form together with one copy of the finalized cover page, title page and copyright page.

First-time applicants are required to submit a copy of supporting documents of commercial registration or non-profit social organization registration, whereas individual publishers are required to submit a copy of their Macau identification card.