From Pinar del Río to Sancti-Spiritus province, including Isla de la Juventud, almost a thousand titles on different subjects will be available to readers, who will also be able to meet with writers, enjoy art expositions, have access to digital publications, and participate with their children in activities especially organized for them.

Before the closing of the fair in Havana, the jury awarded the best exhibitors: The Galicia Pavilion (the events guest of honor this year) won the prize for the best foreign exhibitor, while first place among national pavilions went to the Tablas Alarcos publishing house and, second for Bolonia publishers. There were mentions for Unión, Abril, and Nuevo Milenio publishing houses.

According to an announcement made by the president of the Cuban Book Institute, Iroel Sanchez, the 2009 edition of the fair will pay tribute to historian Jorge Ibarra and poetess and essayist Fina Garcia Marruz, while Chile will be the guest of honor. For the first time, a tribute will be paid to an institution, in this case Havanas Casa de las Americas, which next year celebrates its 50th anniversary.

Galician participants thanked the events organizers for making it possible for them to show in Havana a representative sample of the arts and letters of that Spanish region.

Emilio Lamarca, cultural director of the Chilean foreign ministry in Havana, accepted Cubas invitation and assured that his countrys writers and artists will receive it with satisfaction and responsibility.

(www.cubanews.ain.cu)