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Le Salon des Metiers du Livre
Inside the main hall, somewhat hidden behind another 'inside' salon, 1500
square meters are devoted to 40 exhibitors, who represent book professionals.
These include teachers, librarians, distributors and booksellers, as well
as the
printing trades. Publishers of electronic data bases, software, as well as
network
professionals are in this group.
Le 5e Salon de la Revue
Right at the back of the hall, on a straight line from the entrance, the
Salon de la Revue is not exactly hiding in a dark corner with 90 stands
showing 500 little magazines. The journals represented here are the proof
that France is a country were freedom of expression is not mere lip-service
to the UN charter.
That is not to say that all the publications here are subversive - far from it. This is the salon where you'll find the university presses, the film journals, the critical revues, and - ah - poetry yes poetry still exists and here it is take a look - and the magazines published by people who not only want to have their own magazine, they want to make them too.
While a good number of these revues have circulations of less that 1000, some have a somewhat grander scale and quite large reputations - not only in France, but worldwide. Who has not read or heard of 'Cahiers du Cinema' for example? Well, not read maybe. Some people just collect it.
Last because latest :
L'Espace Multimedia 'L'Ecran se Met a la Page'
This is the area at the back, on the right, hiding Le Salon des Metiers du
Livre, so there is really no reason not to find either. Look for hot lights and
plenty of noise.
There are fewer exhibitors here, with larger stands. The emphasis is on publishing - there are a fair number of CD-ROM titles scattered throughout the entire salon.
The contrast between the Apple and Microsoft stands is interesting. Microsoft is showing titles. Apple is showing how to make titles. Interest seems to be about equal at both stands. The players, slightly younger, test-driving Microsoft's wares; the doers, slightly older - posing those usual frequently asked questions, at Apple. One wonders if Microsoft might be paying Apple to be there. Somebody has to make the titles Microsoft is selling after all.
CD-ROM publishing in France has exploded in the last six months. There are a lot of French readers around the world who really don't like to read english. It is a pretty big niche market - and the anglos aren't much interested in it. French culture would probably very well on CD-ROMs; if French publishers could really do them in english. Other sources hint that French distribution just dosen't 'get' it.
Return to Book Salon main page.
Updated 03/95 - text by Richard Erickson
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