DAR ES SALAAM: THE government expects modern digital platforms to transform Tanzania’s publishing industry by expanding markets for local authors, simplifying book registration and improving access to literary works; Education, Science and Technology Minister Prof Adolf Mkenda has said.
He said the Integrated National Digital Library System (INDLS), developed by the Tanzania Library Services Board (TLSB) under the e-Government Authority (eGA), would help address longstanding challenges that have prevented writers from earning sustainable incomes from their work.
Speaking at the 4th National Conference on Library Services and Reading, Prof Mkenda said digital technology offered an opportunity to connect authors with readers locally and internationally while making Tanzanian literature more accessible.
“This technological shift addresses the long-standing challenge where authors sacrifice to produce quality works yet struggle with a lack of markets and fail to earn a sustainable income from their talents,” he said.
The minister observed that traditional publishing and distribution channels often leave writers struggling to reach readers, with some forced to finance printing and marketing themselves without any guarantee of sales.
He said the new digital services would help bridge the gap between authors and readers by creating more efficient channels for registering, distributing and accessing books.
The services include the issuance of International Standard Book Numbers (ISBN) and International Standard Serial Numbers (ISSN), digital book lending and reading, resource sharing among educational institutions and dedicated mobile applications.
Prof Mkenda said the system would simplify administrative procedures for authors and publishers while enabling readers to discover and access a wider range of locally produced content.
“Digital services, which are expanding rapidly today, give us a clear sign that while many of us still prefer holding a physical book, there is a vast array of online resources that can reach a far wider audience,” he said.
He said the government wanted Tanzanian writers of novels, plays, poetry and other literary works to have reliable opportunities to publish, distribute and sell their creations.
“There are writers who have reached a point where they write great works, but there are no readers,” Prof Mkenda said, describing the difficulties faced by authors who lack effective distribution channels.
He added that mobile applications would be particularly useful in reaching younger generations, many of whom rely on smartphones and other electronic devices to access information and entertainment.
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Through the platform, readers could access Tanzanian literary works without depending entirely on physical bookshops, potentially expanding readership and creating new commercial opportunities for publishers and independent writers.
The initiative is also expected to support the preservation of the country’s cultural heritage by making local stories, historical records and other knowledge more accessible in digital formats.
Prof Mkenda said digitising Tanzanian content would help ensure that the country’s history, culture and values were adequately represented in the digital environment, including in information accessed through Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems.
He called on library boards, publishers and other stakeholders to work closely with the government to ensure the effective implementation of the system.
He said stronger collaboration would be essential to building a sustainable publishing industry in which authors could reach wider audiences, earn from their intellectual property and contribute to the country’s creative economy.
