Arab World : Jordan

“70% of the books available in libraries are imported from abroad.”

“Public contracts for books:”

• “20% is the percentage of national publishing (with local capital) that receives public contracts for libraries in Jordan.”
• “There are no multinational or foreign groups that receive public contracts for public and university libraries.”

“90% of school curricula are produced by the state through an independent institution with specific conditions, laws, and oversight. This content is provided to both public and private schools and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). The remaining 10% focuses on KG1 and KG2 levels and some optional curricula added by schools, such as French language and programming.”

• “The financial estimates from public contracts will be approximate. In 2023, the estimated financial value for a private school in Jordan amounted to 13,600,000 Jordanian Dinars.”

“Public contracts for school books are obtained through clear and transparent bidding processes.”

• “The percentage of national publishing (with local capital) that receives public contracts for school books is 100% for private schools and 0% for public schools.”

“Note: The Jordanian government is ultimately responsible for publishing and printing curricula through a development center that operates under specific conditions and laws. The only space left for private publishing houses is for the curricula of preschool and kindergarten (KG1 + KG2) and some additional optional books selected by certain private schools (such as books on artificial intelligence, early computer education, and early social studies). All these curricula are sourced from local national publishers.”

“There are no significant public purchases of books in local languages in Jordan.”

“Total public purchases for public libraries in 2023:”

• “For printed books: 50,000 Jordanian Dinars for libraries affiliated with private institutions, municipalities, or civil society organizations.”
• “For digital books in 2023: there are no clear figures (in any case, they are scarce).”

“Total public purchases for university libraries in 2023:”

• “For printed books: approximately 180,000 Jordanian Dinars for 35 private and public universities.”
• “For digital books: there has been no presence in any of the years.”

“Note: There is a noticeable decrease in purchases each year.”

“Public contracts for books for public and university libraries are obtained through a clear and transparent bidding process.”

“The two main discussions surrounding copyright in Jordan currently are:”

1. “The transformation of publishing houses into financial institutions that compel authors to pay to publish their books, and how to find a way or solution to this crisis.”
2. “The author’s ability to collect any of their material rights or other rights from publishers specifically and from other sectors in general.”

“In Jordan, there are three forms of funds to support authors:”

1. “The most common form: financial support for the author is determined based on the size of the book, covering printing costs (in the case of partial support) for printing 1,000 copies, with a set amount of 65 Jordanian Dinars per binding and a maximum final amount of 1,200 Jordanian Dinars. This broader funding also includes costs for formatting, cover design, marketing, etc. Additionally, 600 Jordanian Dinars are provided as rights for the author (in the case of full support). In both cases, the amount can be given to any publisher the author chooses or can be used for self-publishing.”

2. “Another form of support from the Ministry of Culture involves publishing or republishing the book through them (acting as the publisher) and distributing it at a very nominal price determined by them.”

3. “Support from the Family Library Authority involves a project where they print works from various fields every year with a pre-determined budget and generous royal support. They select books and authors, both living and deceased, and provide 1,000 US dollars in rights for printing 1,000 copies designated for the library at a known discounted price for the project.”

   • “In the previous Family Library project, the 1,000 Jordanian Dinars are given to the publisher if the publisher owns the author’s rights.”

“There are no funds to support libraries, translation, or the travel of publishers/authors.”

“There is a law to eliminate taxes on books and stationery – one of its positives is that it helps limit the rise in book prices.”

1. “The law should be expanded to include paper, as it is a part of the book.”
2. “The law allows for the importation of books without the need for an importer card.”
3. “It includes the removal of taxes on all related retail operations as a form of support for the sale and distribution of books.”

“There are many challenges in the policies related to books, their production, and management. It starts with the fact that all relevant bodies and their employees do not pay attention or show interest in books. The problem is compounded by the fact that the Publishers Association or the Writers Union receives their financial support from the state, which allocates a specific budget for them, somewhat limiting accountability for the bodies responsible for books.

“Policies in Jordan do not keep pace with updates in the world of books and the laws governing them globally. Even if there are any improvements in policies, they are not implemented in practice, and the old policies remain in effect. A significant challenge is that the banning and censorship of books still exists, particularly for books imported from abroad.

“One of the policies that obstructs or poses a real barrier to small and medium-sized libraries is the policy that restricts the import of books unless there is an importer card, which requires massive and very difficult conditions.”

“Recent developments in the last ten years include:”

1. “The cessation of all forms of prior censorship on books, shifting to post-publication monitoring through complaints or lawsuits filed with the Publications Department.”
2. “The development of most transactions related to books into electronic transactions.”

“Publishers are currently not participating in any clear decisions and do not exert any influence on policymakers or pressure on the government to change specific policies. This is in contrast to the past, when, during the martial law period, the association had a political, intellectual, and social voice under what was known as the Association of Writers. This association was dissolved by a decree issued by the Jordanian military governor in 1987, and its president was imprisoned. The association was reinstated two years later.”

“The piracy of printed books significantly impacts the book market. First, it alarmingly affects the import and export of books, as the market is saturated before the original copy arrives. Second, it undermines the role of publishers and destroys the opportunities they create by turning one of their books into a bestseller, leading to the majority of sales being from pirated copies once the book gains popularity.”

“Electronic book piracy also has an effect, but it is slightly less severe than that of printed books. The reason for its lesser impact is that some of the side effects of having pirated electronic books include marketing for the book or allowing readers to experience a short or long trial; this can lead to the purchase of a printed copy, either to complete the experience or to keep a physical copy in their library after they enjoy it.”

“The three essential measures needed to support the publishing sector are:”

1. “An incentive award granted to publishers (similar to the state encouragement award for writers).”
2. “Facilitation of loans through the Central Bank in coordination with the relevant publishing and book authorities.”
3. “Establishing a law that mandates and encourages private and public schools, university libraries, and public libraries in all municipalities, youth centers, and parks to purchase from local publishing houses.”