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/ The Professional Programme as PDF (0,4 MB)

/ Conference, Friday, November 20

09:00-20:30, Carob Mills, Limassol

Simultaneous interpretation: English Greek

08:00-09:00

Registration and reception

Register online. Free entry. Registration will be open throughout the day.

09:00-09:15

Welcome remarks

  • Haris Ioannides, , publisher, Armida Books; Board member, Cyprus Publishers Association; Co-founder, Limassol International Book Fair
  • Michalis Kalamaras, Co-curator, Limassol International Book Fair Conference; publishing consultant, Thinking; founder, eAnagnostis.gr
  • Barbara Aristidou, President, Cyprus Association of Librarians and Information Scientists (CALIS); Librarian, Cyprus University of Technology (CUT)
  • Mina Charalambous, Director, University of Nicosia Library; Member, IFLA Regional Division Committee Europe

09:15-10:15

Intellectual Property and Libraries in Cyprus

Co-organised with the Cyprus Association of Librarians and Information Scientists (CALIS), Knowledge Rights 21, and the University of Nicosia Library

  • Research: Copyright and libraries in Cyprus
  • Cypriot copyright legislation
  • Gaps in the legal framework

Talk

  • “From Preserving to Sharing Knowledge: Legal Challenges to Accessing Culture” –  Philippe Jougleux, Professor, School of Law, European University Cyprus

Panel discussion

  • Philippe Jougleux, Professor, School of Law, European University Cyprus
  • Sylvia Koukounidou, University of Cyprus Library; Cyprus Copyright Association (EDPI); OpenAIRE
  • Fotini Tsiridou, Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Legal Affairs, House of Representatives 
  • Moderator: George Glossiotis, Librarian; National Coordinator for Greece and Cyprus, Knowledge Rights 21

10:15-11:15

AI Literacy and Libraries

Co-organised with the Cyprus Association of Librarians and Information Scientists (CALIS), and the University of Nicosia Library

  • Information literacy and AI
  • AI applications and tools in libraries 
  • National strategy for artificial intelligence (AI)

 

Talk

  • “Artificial Intelligence, Literacy and Academic Performance” – Dr Charalambos Vrasidas, Executive Director, CARDET (Center for the Advancement of Research and Development in Educational Technology)

 

Panel discussion

  • Dr Charalambos Vrasidas, Executive Director, CARDET
  • Dr Nicodemos Damianou, Deputy Minister, Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy
  • Athena Evagorou, Librarian, Cyprus University of Technology (CUT) 
  • Anthi Baliou, Librarian; Head, University of Macedonia Library and Information Centre
  • Moderator: Eleni Singou, Senior Collection Management and Development Librarian, University of Nicosia Library

11:15-11:45

Break

11:45-12:45

Reading Books in the Digital Age / Part 1

Organised as part of the ThinkPub project, co-funded by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union

Co-organised with the Cyprus Association of Librarians and Information Scientists (CALIS), the University of Nicosia Library and Information Centre, and the Cyprus Association on Books for Young People (CYBBY), Cypriot section of IBBY

Libraries and Reading Promotion in Cyprus

  • Reading initiatives in Cyprus
  • Childhood and reading
  • Policies to promote reading

Talk

  • “CALIS’s Contribution to Reading in Cyprus” – Theodora Petrou, Representative, Cyprus Association of Librarians and Information Scientists (CALIS); Librarian, Head of the Systems Office, University of Cyprus Library

Panel discussion

  • Theodora Petrou, Representative, Cyprus Association of Librarians and Information Scientists (CALIS); Librarian, Head of the Systems Office, University of Cyprus Library
  • Despoina Herakleous, Cultural Education Coordinator, Department of Contemporary Culture, Deputy Ministry of Culture 
  • Andreas Apostolou, Member of the House of Representatives of Cyprus; Apostolou Foundation 
  • Koula Panagou, Educational Programmes Coordinator, Network for Children’s Rights 
  • Moderator: Ypapanti (Dia) Kytta, Archivist–Librarian, Cyprus Library; International Relations Secretary, Cyprus Association of Librarians and Information Scientists (CALIS)

12:45-13:00

Award ceremony: “Cypriot Libraries”
Kindly sponsored by EBSCO

​​In memory of Filippos Tsimpoglou (1956-2023), Director of University of Cyprus Library (1999-2014), General Director of National Library of Greece (2014-2023)

13:00-14:00

Lunch break & networking

14:00-18:00

Reading books in the digital age / Part 2

Organised as part of the ThinkPub project, co-funded by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union

Co-organised with the Cyprus Association of Librarians and Information Scientists (CALIS), the University of Nicosia Library and Information Centre, and the Cyprus Association on Books for Young People (CYBBY), Cypriot section of IBBY

14:00-16:30

A compass for reading culture and reading promotion today

  • What is a book in the digital age? What is reading in the digital age?
  • Best practices for audience development and reading promotion in Europe
  • What are the next steps for reading promotion in Cyprus?
  • How can libraries make a difference in reading promotion in Cyprus?
Talks
  • “Read to breathe: Why read books in the digital era?” – Prof. Miha Kovač, Department of Library and Information Science and Book Studies, University of Ljubljana
  • “Best practices for audience development and reading promotion in Europe” – Luis González, Director General, Fundación Germán Sánchez Ruipérez (FGSR)
  • “Setting goals, measuring states, making decisions, and implementing interventions: How do we move towards a desired state of reading? Does AI make this easier or more difficult?” - Prof. Christoph Bläsi, Department of Book Studies, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
  • “Reading culture, reading practices and reading promotion in Cyprus” – Dr Anna Kouppanou, Coordinator of the Network for the Support of Reading Promotion, Cyprus Pedagogical Institute
  • “Inform, Inspire, Create: Reading promotion today and the sections of IBBY” – Christina Christodoulou, president, Cyprus Association on Books for Young People (CYBBY), Cypriot section of IBBY, & Charalambos Demetriou, vice-president, Cyprus Association on Books for Young People (CYBBY); member, Executive Committee, IBBY

16:30-17:00

Break

17:00-18:00

How to develop the reading culture in Cyprus: Towards a new policy for reading promotion

  • Reading culture and reading practices in Cyprus today
  • International and national policies and initiatives for reading promotion
  • From individual actions to a national reading policy

Panel discussion

  • Luis González, Director General, Fundación Germán Sánchez Ruipérez (FGSR)
  • Emilios Solomou, author, educator
  • Vaggelis Gettos, Culture & Arts Specialist, Center for Social Innovation - CSI (Cyprus).
  • Moderator: Michalis Kalamaras, Co-curator, Limassol International Book Fair Conference; publishing consultant, Thinking; founder, eAnagnostis.gr

18:00-18:30

Break

18:30-20:30

The tech publishers need now: AI, ebooks, audiobooks / Part 1

Organised as part of the ThinkPub project, co-funded by the Creative Europe programme

Welcome remarks: Elias Epiphaniou, President, Cyprus Publishers Association; Publisher, Elias Epiphaniou Publications

Talks

  • "Where books and content meet technology in the age of AI: Building the next innovation ecosystem" – Demetris Skourides, Chief Scientist for Research, Innovation and Technology, Republic of Cyprus; Chair of the National AI Taskforce; Chairman of the Board of Directors, Research and Innovation Foundation (RIF)
  • “Quiver, Don’t Quake: How creativity and publishing can embrace AI” – Nadim Sadek, Founder & CEO, Shimmr AI
  • “Unlocking opportunities for content: Books,Intellectual Property and AI” – Yiannos Georgiades, Managing Partner, Y. Georgiades & Associates LLC; Co-Founder, Kinisis Ventures
  • Lightning talk: “Production stats on ebooks and audiobooks in Greek” – Mirella Batziania, Responsible for the content and management of the Books in Print database bookpoint.gr, Greek Collecting Society for Literary Works (OSDEL)
  • “Ebooks today: Standards, reading systems, accessibility, and DRM” – Gautier Chomel, Head of Accessibility & Quality Management, European Digital Reading Lab - EDRLab
  • “Audiobooks: Global markets, emerging business models, and new audiences” – Carlo Carrenho, publishing consultant, Carrenho Publishing Consulting; journalist, Publishing Perspectives

21:00

Cocktail reception & networking

Chez-νού • literary society

Free admission for Limassol International Book Fair Conference attendees.

/ Professional Programme, Saturday, November 21

11:00-16:00, Carob Mills, Limassol

Working language: English

11:00-12:00

Building a Euro-Mediterranean Publishing Corridor

Co-organised with Invest Cyprus - Cyprus Investment Promotion Agency (CIPA). In cooperation with the Egyptian Publishers Association.

Stage 3 | Open Stage

  • The priorities of the European and the Arab book markets
  • International book fairs as a staging ground for rights trading and technology providers
  • Mechanisms needed to make cooperation and investment work
  • Cyprus as a stable regional base for publishing, intellectual property and technology

 

Panel discussion

  • Marios Tannousis, CEO, Invest Cyprus - Cyprus Investment Promotion Agency (CIPA)
  • Ali Abdel-Moneim Ahmed, Co-Founder & CEO Arabookverse International
  • Nisreen Kreidieh, Publisher, Dar Annahda Al Arabia for printing, publishing & distribution
  • Hanife İçten, Key Account Manager for English-Language World, Cyprus, Greece, Türkiye & Azerbaijan, Frankfurt Book Fair
  • Moderator: Haris Ioannides, publisher, Armida Books; Board member, Cyprus Publishers Association; Co-founder, Limassol International Book Fair

12:00-14:00

B2B Space: Meetings for book professionals

See details and the list of thematic tables and registered professionals at the B2B Space programme

13:30-14:30

The Importance of Bibliotherapy for Mental Health

Organised as part of the ThinkPub project, co-funded by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union

Co-organised with the Embassy of Italy in Cyprus, the Cyprus Association of Librarians and Information Scientists (CALIS), Creative Europe Desk Cyprus, the Organization for European Programmes and Cultural Relations (OEPCR), and the Cyprus Society of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy (CSPP)

Stage 1 | Main Stage

On the occasion of the Greek edition of Fabio Stassi’s “Night-time in France” (Ikaros Publishing)

Dialogue

  • Fabio Stassi, author; editor, minimum fax; Director, Library of Oriental Studies, Sapienza University of Rome
  • Moderator: Manolis Pimplis, journalist

14:00-16:00

The tech publishers need now: AI, ebooks, audiobooks / Part 2

Organised as part of the ThinkPub project, co-funded by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union

14:00-15:00

AI, publishing and multilingual content in Cyprus

Stage 3 | Open Stage

  • “Licensing written works for Training Large Language Models (LLMs) and AI applications – George Andrew Zannos, Managing Director, Greek Collecting Society for Literary Works (OSDEL)
  • “Audiobooks: AI production workflows and distribution” –  Andrey Mishenev, CEO and co-founder, ABP Publishing and Booka
  • “From Words to Worlds: Learning through Digital Storytelling” – Maria Lavithi, Founder & CEO, Heroes Made
  • “AI Meets Human Expertise: Directorate-General for Translation’s (DGT) Language Tools and New Opportunities for Publishing in Cyprus” – Mary Panousi, Representative of the Directorate-General for Translation (DGT) of the European Commission in Cyprus, Responsible for Communication and Outreach Activities, Promotion of AI-Powered Language Tools, Translation and Multilingualism

15:00-16:00

What is the future of Books, Reading, and Publishing in the Age of AI?

Organised as part of the ThinkPub project, co-funded by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union

Stage 3 | Open Stage

On the occasion of the Greek editions of “Read to breathe: Ten reasons to read books in the digital age” by Miha Kovac (To Mellon/Vakxikon Publications) and of “Shimmer, don't Shake - How Publishing Can Embrace AI” by Nadim Sadek (Kastaniotis Editions)

  • Nadim Sadek, Founder & CEO, Shimmr AI
  • Prof. Miha Kovač, Department of Library and Information Science and Book Studies, University of Ljubljana
  • Maria A. Ioannou, author
  • Moderator: Michalis Kalamaras, Co-curator, Limassol International Book Fair Conference; publishing consultant, Thinking; founder, eAnagnostis.gr

/ Professional Programme, Sunday, November 22

11:00–12:00

Who Owns Your Intelligence Now? AI, Intellectual Property and the Future of Your Creative Work.

Organised as part of the ThinkPub project, co-funded by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union

Co-organised with: Armida Publications, Limassol International Book Fair Publications

Stage 1 | Main Stage

On the occasion of the publication of Yiannos Georgiades’ book “Who Owns Your Intelligence Now?” (Armida Publications, Limassol International Book Fair Publications)

Dialogue

  • Yiannos Georgiades, Managing Partner, Y. Georgiades & Associates LLC; Co-Founder, Kinisis Ventures
  • Moderator: Christos Michalaros, journalist