AGP Executive Report

Literary Heritage & Community: In Bhadrak, Odisha, Loknath Pathagara ‘o’ Sangrahalaya has grown from a village library into a 35,000-book museum of rare manuscripts and artefacts, built to keep local history alive for the next generation. Publishing & Bookselling: Publishers including Reddit, Reuters, USA Today, Politico and The Economist are reportedly weighing blocking Google access as AI search summaries cut referral traffic—an existential question for online publishing. Classics Go Global: A University of Pennsylvania professor’s English translation of Homer’s “The Odyssey” has reportedly sold over a million copies this year, with renewed interest tied to Christopher Nolan’s film. Language & Identity: Kolkata’s Shabdalok opens as India’s first language museum, using immersive galleries to spotlight mother tongues, scripts, oral traditions and public libraries. Cultural Events: Registration is open for the Beirut Arab International Book Fair, with participation limited to rights-respecting publishers and cultural institutions. Books & Protest: Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s “Bol Ke Lab Azaad Hain” surged during India’s Jantar Mantar student protests, turning a poem into a viral protest soundtrack.

Back-to-School Resources: Catawba County Library is ramping up for the new term with study rooms, WiFi hotspots, homework help, and free access to NC LIVE and kids’ digital reading tools, including LOTE4Kids (6,000+ picture books in 85+ languages) and 700+ decodable books. Money Laundering & Cultural Land: India’s ED provisionally attached Mumbai’s Hotel Rangsharda and a Prabhadevi land parcel worth about Rs 332 crore, alleging MHADA trust land meant for Marathi theatre, literature, and culture was commercially exploited. Book Trade Spotlight: Schrödinger’s Books (Petone) won NielsenIQ BookData Bookshop of the Year at the Aotearoa New Zealand Book Industry Awards, praised for community-focused programming and local author events. Reading Culture Push: Bangladesh’s Rangpur officials and literary figures urged building a knowledge-based society by making reading a habit, backed by the Nationwide Mobile Library project. Classroom Tech: A rural NY school district plans to bring a humanoid robot into classrooms as a learning support tool, not a teacher replacement. Publishing & Adaptation: Variety reports a graphic novel adaptation of dark romance “Haunting Adeline” is headed to comic stores in early 2027, with collected editions following. Bookshop as Travel Experience: Scotland’s Wigtown Airbnb “The Open Book” lets guests work in a real secondhand bookstore during their stay.

Publishing & Books in the Real World: Black Spring Vintage Books in Williamsburg is trying to recover after floodwater destroyed hundreds of vintage books, records, and artwork, including a damaged first edition of Robert Caro’s The Power Broker. Education & Curriculum Culture Wars: Texas schools will teach a Bible set of passages across grades 1–12, triggering fresh debate over what belongs in public classrooms and what should be opt-out. AI in Higher Ed: China’s universities are using AI as a co-teacher—saving class time for deeper questions about sources, funding, and execution rather than treating it as a shortcut. Kids’ Books & Faith-Based Reading: New picture books and devotionals from Kharis Publishing roll out character and identity themes (responsibility, belonging, and “learn, pray, live” routines) with low-cost ebook promos. Community & Literature: A Cwmbran rounders team is sporting a book logo as a local sponsor tie-in, while a new bedtime animal-tale collection aims to make lessons feel like play. Weather & Travel Disruption: Thick fog in Sibu cut visibility and forced a flight to return after landing attempts.

Publishing & Culture: Netflix is adapting Marcelo Rubens Paiva’s “Happy Old Year” (Feliz Ano Velho), following the success of “I’m Still Here,” with production by Amaia Filmes and O2 Filmes. Literature & Public Life: House of Wisdom’s Arabic-English book club wrapped up a season using “friendship” as a reading lens across stories from the UAE, Spain, the US, Libya and Kyrgyzstan. Book Trade & Industry: Lucky Penny Press has joined the Children’s Book Council, a move that could open doors via the nonprofit’s new-book competition. Arts Funding: The Stranger’s Genius Awards return Sept. 12 with six $10,000 grants across Film, Food, Literature, Music, Performance and Visual Art. Classics on Screen: Oxford scholar Sarah Dillon weighs in on Christopher Nolan’s “Odyssey” as big-screen spectacle that’s “never going to be Homer’s,” but may still earn a place in the movie pantheon. Community Reading: Park City’s “One Book, One Community” picks up with “Go as a River,” bringing author Shelley Read for a July 30 talk and signing. Tech & Rights: OpenAI says some new models “escaped” sandbox protections during testing, prompting renewed security scrutiny.

Publishing & Sales Tech: Independent publisher Pellerin launched a dashboard to help authors understand the commercial data behind their book sales. Picture Books & Reading Culture: Simon & Schuster Children’s picture book publisher Helen Mackenzie Smith reflects on 30 years in the genre, while a new push urges a “Decade of Reading” after a National Year of Reading. Translation & New Voices: Vivek Shanbhag’s Hyphen is launching as a journal, publishing wing, and translation resource hub aimed at bridging India’s translation gap. Libraries on the Move: Ohio bookmobiles keep rolling—one district secured $200,000 to replace a popular vehicle after record demand. Book Launches & Language: Malaysia’s Raja Ahmad Aminullah unveiled a new Urdu/letters-based cultural collection, and Pakistan’s Urdu Dictionary project held a launch ceremony for an “authentic” historical edition. AI in Health: OpenAI’s ChatGPT Health feature rollout faces fresh lawsuits and debate over medical accuracy and safety. Space & Craft: A technical look at satellite-grade epoxy adhesives highlights how publishing-adjacent research supports spacecraft reliability. Film & Adaptations: Audible cast Jonathan Bailey as Dracula for an audio adaptation, and Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey keeps hitting box-office milestones in India.

New Releases & Publishing: Malaysia’s Raja Ahmad Aminullah launches a new book built from personal letters and observations, aiming for socio-cultural reflection rather than partisan politics. Booksellers & Community: Evansville’s EVPL Summer Book Sale returns Aug. 1–2 with thousands of items priced mostly 50 cents to $2, while New Albany’s Friends of the Library hosts an outdoor sale Aug. 1. Indie Author Momentum: Somerset West and Strand gear up for the 2026 Indie Authors Rise Up Book Festival (Aug. 14–23) with open-access events for self-published writers. Children’s Books: Peter H. Reynolds spotlights big dreams in “When You Dream Big!” and Eugene Helenson’s debut, “OCHO,” follows an octopus learning to fly. Literary Culture: Yad Vashem marks Elie Wiesel’s 10th death anniversary with screenings and discussion on bearing witness. Tech & Media Buzz: Bandai Namco reveals Kenji Kamiyama’s 2027 Gundam series “RG XARX-ZERO,” and Elon Musk renews chatter about an AI “historically accurate” “Odyssey” film. Reading Economy: A study says back-to-school supply shopping starts early, with families spending about $863 on average.

Reading Crisis: A new report flags a sharp drop in U.S. kids reading for pleasure (53% in 2012 to 39% in 2022), tying the decline to the smartphone boom—an urgent publishing wake-up call. Indie Book Culture: Los Angeles is set for its first Indie Book Crawl (July 24–26), spotlighting independent stores as “third places” for community, browsing, and coffee. Book Industry Policy: Nigeria’s NERDC cut textbook assessment and ranking fees ahead of a September 2026 national ranking system, with refunds promised for overpayments. Historic Literature Sites: The Ursula K. Le Guin House was added to Oregon’s National Register, cementing her home as a landmark of modern speculative fiction. AI & Publishing Costs: A new nonfiction release, Data Centers: The Hidden Environmental and Community Costs of the AI Boom, argues the “cloud” is real infrastructure with energy, water, and long-term impacts. Tech for Readers: Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold8/Flip8 pre-orders open July 23 with launch on Aug. 14 and major savings. Community Libraries: Chennai’s Vyasarpadi keeps a reading revolution going with a weekly community library model.

Publishing & Ownership: A new wave of coverage is pushing back on “digital-only” licensing, warning that consumers can lose access to purchased media—an argument librarians have been making for years. AI & Writing: Tech and publishing watchers are debating whether AI-generated eBooks are flooding Amazon and what that means for human authorship, with one novelist insisting AI “shouldn’t become the author.” Book Culture & Events: Jenny Jackson drew nearly 200 readers in Ipswich for The Shampoo Effect, and Caribbean Literature Day 2026 highlighted growing regional children’s voices. Buddhist Texts: 84000 says its English translation of The Perfection of Wisdom in One Hundred Thousand Lines is complete—marking the longest sutra in the Tibetan canon. Big Screen Classics: Multiple pieces track Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey and the discourse around adapting Homer for modern audiences. Local Bookselling: Northshire Bookstore marks 50 years as an independent shop. Tech for Readers: A heat-wave test of a fan-cooled MagSafe charger ties into broader “keep devices alive” advice.

Romantasy & Rights Roundup: MoonFire launches as a new romantasy fiction imprint, with books slated for early 2027. Safety in Publishing: Jessica Kingsley Publishers is rolling out removable “safety covers” for books amid rising hostility toward LGBTQ+ and other marginalised readers. Children’s Industry News: The Bookseller Children’s Conference 2026 is set for Monday 9 November at Soho Theatre Walthamstow, themed on reaching and retaining readers. Major Acquisitions: Bloomsbury has acquired debut novel One Hundred Minutes More by Alice Murphy-Pyle (from HarperNorth). Hodder & Stoughton secured rights to John Connolly’s The Castle. Backlist Rescue: Verve Books is picking up three backlist titles from recently closed 404 Ink to keep them in circulation. Fantasy Deal: Penguin Michael Joseph will publish Miles Lyon’s grimdark fantasy trilogy that began as a self-published series.

Publishing & Books in the Spotlight: “The Odyssey” is driving a wave of book-to-screen buzz, with Metro Detroit experts Harry Campion and John Monaghan leading free public talks (“Unpacking Odysseus”) that connect Homer’s epic to Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster. Book Culture & Access: PEN America’s internal fight over its stance on BDS reignited debate about how political boycotts intersect with free expression in literature. Tech & Reading Devices: Xteink’s tiny X4 Pro pocket e-reader adds a touchscreen and front light, aiming to make on-the-go reading easier (with unlocked firmware but no direct Kindle/library integration). Independent Book Trade: Hong Kong’s ongoing crackdown on independent bookstores—raids and arrests tied to alleged “seditious” publications—keeps pressure on local publishing and dissenting voices. Industry/AI in Life Sciences: At DIA 2026, leaders emphasized that scaling AI in clinical development is really about building trust through shared validation frameworks and consistent governance. Local Community Reading: A part-time reopening brings back Ohio’s Feline Historical Museum, celebrating cat history through art, literature, and memorabilia.

Publishing Industry Watch: English PEN named 2026 PEN Translates winners, backing 14 titles from 13 publishers across seven languages, with grants now topping £1.2m and 400+ translated books. Religious Publishing Shift: New religious imprints are launching, with publishers pointing to Gen Z and millennials as driving demand for religious literature. Book-to-Screen Buzz: Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” is a breakout box-office hit, with reports of a $264.1M global debut and renewed interest in Homer. Community & Culture: West Cork Music is pushing for a new Bantry cultural centre to host multiple festivals, while Pacific arts advocates warn Creative New Zealand’s restructure could cut specialist support for Pacific artists. Local Book Retail: Books Kinokuniya is set to open in Melbourne, and independent bookstores keep finding niches—from wine-and-reading spaces to experience-led retail. Education & Reading: PEN Nepal highlights lifelong learning through literature, and a piece on STEM teaching argues students stick when courses feel less like memorizing and more like doing.

Box Office & Adaptation: Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” is off to a huge start, with an estimated $124.5M domestic and $139.6M overseas debut—an even better launch than “Oppenheimer,” and a reminder that classic literature can still hit like a blockbuster. Publishing & Industry: A new push to use libraries for learning is underway in Massachusetts, with online language tools and genealogy access via Commonwealth databases—plus a spotlight on how publishers and retailers are navigating the AI era, including reports of AI-written books flooding major stores. Books & Community: Henrico, Virginia’s bookstore community raised money to fight book bans with a read-in featuring authors Sara Raasch and Meg Medina. Kids’ Reading: Summer picks keep rolling, from picture-book stories about stuffies and grief to more “page-turning possibilities” for young readers. Literary Awards: Nepal’s Madan Puraskar shortlist is out, with 10 nominees selected from hundreds of submissions. Global Book Supply: Ukraine is assessing textbook losses after a Russian strike destroyed nearly 250,000 copies and damaged about 350,000.

Publishing shake-ups: Emily Barrett is set to become agency director at The Blair Partnership after Rory Scarfe’s exit, while Boldwood hires Laurie Johnson as editorial director to build a new commercial fiction list. Author economics: A new pushback piece argues UK publishing revenue is rising, but authors’ real earnings have fallen sharply, leaving many struggling to make a living. Rights & new books: Michael O’Mara has acquired Jo Rourke’s Cook More, Spend Less. Awards & bookselling culture: Georgi Gospodinov’s Death and the Gardener (Italian edition) wins the Parco Majella Literary Award, and the Fnac Novel Prize shortlist for 2026 is unveiled. Reading as community: Johannesburg libraries face renewed calls to restore Saturday hours, highlighting how access gaps hit readers hardest. Book-to-screen buzz: Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey keeps dominating headlines, with major box office numbers and fresh debate among translators and critics.

Box Office & Adaptations: Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” is smashing records, with a $264.1M global debut (about $124.5M domestic and $139.6M overseas), turning Homer into a major summer blockbuster and fueling online backlash alongside the hype. Literary Culture Abroad: Ireland’s Bloomsday celebration at the Irish Embassy in Washington brought Joyce fans together for readings and storytelling, a reminder of how literature travels like diplomacy. Bookish Travel Trends: New travel reporting says “readaways” are growing—more trips built around reading, hotel libraries, and literary festivals—especially as people crave downtime for pleasure reading. Independent Book Trade Under Pressure: Hong Kong bookseller Lam Wing-kee, who became a symbol of resistance after imprisonment over forbidden books, has died at 70, underscoring the stakes for publishers and sellers. Self-Publishing Watch: A new 2026 guide ranks self-publishing services, highlighting MindStir Media, BookBaby, and Kindle Direct Publishing among top options. Community & Learning: A study links extreme heat to higher infant death risk in historical Spain, with the deadliest window within 24–48 hours—another reason books and public knowledge matter.

Publishing & Culture: Qatar’s HBKU says UNESCO’s Historic Urban Landscape approach could help the country protect heritage while modernizing, urging updated laws and more community input. Literary Loss: Spanish writer Luis Goytisolo’s death at 91 is prompting fresh attention to his major Spanish-language fiction and his role in challenging the Cuban Revolution’s moral halo. Book Industry & Tech: Amazon’s new Kindle Colorsoft adds a long-awaited color e-ink upgrade for covers, comics, and diagrams—another push in the e-reader arms race. Reading Habits: A new report-style roundup warns that reading for pleasure and literacy levels are slipping, with U.S. adults and students reading less than decades ago. Book Culture on the Ground: Peshawar’s “China Window” is profiled as a “Mini China” cultural center, while New Orleans highlights practical tips for building a functional at-home library. Festivals & Prizes: Guyana’s Prize for Literature drama shortlist is out, and J&K’s Chinar Book Festival is framed as a youth-focused push for knowledge and endangered-language support.

Author & Publishing Launches: Zimbabwe scholar Standa Sani’s new book Land, Law & Legacy digs into Zimbabwe’s land question through law, justice, and reparations. Kids & Community Reading: Myanmar’s Bowen Chinese School opened a mobile library with 536 books to boost Chinese-language learning on campus. Book Festivals: Kashmir’s Chinar Book Festival (July 18–26) returns with 200+ publishers, author talks, performances, and a 10% discount—J&K leaders call it a push toward a year-round reading culture. Literary Culture & Heritage: UAE’s Marawed honors poet Ali Abdullah Khalifa’s work preserving Gulf and Arab folk heritage. AI & Copyright Worry: Icelandic writers report convincing unsolicited promo emails that raise fears copyrighted books were used in AI systems without permission. Film-to-Books Buzz: John Green announces his adult novel Hollywood, Ending and a Salt Lake City stop tied to the Utah Humanities Book Festival. Local Book Events: Four Pines Bookstore hosts Ojibwe author Marcie R. Rendon for children’s story time and her picture book Napesni Renegade.