The 53th International Frankfurt Book Fair, the most important world event of its kind in the publishing sector, opened on 9 October, amid massive security measures. Its inauguration took place in the presence of Chancellor Schroeder and Kostantinos Stephanopoulos, head of state of the country being celebrated at the fair this year, Greece. In 9 pavilions, covering a total exhibition space of 190,000 square metres, publishers from throughout the world will exhibit their wares, exchange views, discuss new developments and future projects, for six days, from 10 to 15 October. For religious publishing today which makes up a substantial slice of the German market the Frankfurt Book Fair still represents a good occasion for meeting, exchanging views and interpersonal contacts. In this regard Eugen Emmerling, of the Boersenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels, the association of German bookdealers, defines as positive the trend in the sale of religious books: the market has grown since 1995 in a “non sensational, but constant” manner from 4.9 to 5,6% of the overall production of books in Germany. Significant, too, is the breakdown within the sector. According to Pit Stenmans, director of the Katholisches Medienverbandes (Association of Catholic media), which is setting up an Internet bookshop with over 20,000 available titles, there is more demand for books on spirituality and practical advice than on theological studies. The view is endorsed by Friedrich Pustet, head of the publishing house of the same name in Regensburg, who says that what sells best is “the practical literature”. Books on prayer and meditation, Franciscan literature, religious books for children and calendars also have a good market, adds Jutta Bueckendorf of the publisher Butzon & Bercker.
