Booktown Fjærland goes international
The Norwegian Book Town in Fjærland has the potential to become an international destination in the future, say the researchers at Western Norway Research Institute. In August, together with the key persons of Norwegian Book Town in Fjærland, they went to visit other book towns in the UK, Belgium and the Netherlands to share knowledge and inspiration.
– The Norwegian Book Town in Fjærland has high ambitions. We believe that social, economic, and sustainable development in local communities is possible through the development of the book town model, says project leader Anna Maria Urbaniak-Brekke in Western Norway Research Institute (Vestlandsforsking).
22 book towns from around the world are members of The International Organization of Book Towns, including Fjærland and Tvedestrand in Norway. The book town in Fjærland was one of the main players when the Organization was created in 1998. Western Norway Research Institute with partners developed an EU project together, and the Organization was one of the results.
International views
Some of the book towns manage to survive and develop well, while others struggle.
- We have looked at four European book towns that have been in continuous operation and can show a positive development over many years. We wanted to learn from them, which is why we went to Wigtown in Scotland and Sedbergh in England, Redu in Belgium and Bredevoort in the Netherlands, says Urbaniak-Brekke.
The group wanted to observe, discuss and get answers to many questions about both financing the operation and tips for activities other than book selling.
- We got a lot of inspiration and very good internal cooperation already during the trip. We were welcomed by very nice people who are passionate about books and local development: owners of bookstores and organizers of cultural life and festivals. Now we are working towards an international project that aims to bring out and develop the book town model in Europe, and in the long run in the whole world, she says.
Expanded offer and activity
Earlier, Western Norway Research Institute with support from the County Council's VRI4 scheme has helped to identify the following goals that should form the basis for further development:
- Develop and offer an extensive range of services and products that do not rely solely on sales of used books.
- Be a good and safe workplace with financial muscle to innovate.
- Consider the starting point for offering activities throughout the year together with other tourism companies in Fjærland.
