Reading Changes Thoughts, Thoughts Change Actions – on Sabkultura
Exclusive Interview
SABA is famous in Georgia for uniting two parts of the literary world, the Saba Literary Prize and Saba ebook platform. Recently, Saba presented Sabkultura – a new educational platform made specifically for the new generation. Sabkultura aims to give literature a new life, bringing it to youth in a way that is currently popular in Georgia. GEORGIA TODAY spoke to with Irine Javakhadze, Director of SABA, to find out more.
What is the meaning of “Sabkultura”?
Sabkultura is yet another new, open platform for readers and book lovers; a platform where discussing literature and sharing ideas about it will be made easy. It is exactly this project under the scope of which the Saba application – SABA Reader - was updated. In this sense, the updated version is a new product.
SABA was founded in 2012 with the support of TBC Bank and aside from a library of electronic books, SABA makes for the most authoritative literary prize. We also organize a lot of different social-educational projects. Sabkultura is yet another step being taken to support literature.
Tell us about the Sabkultura app.
The updated app for SABA has a lot of additional functions added to maximize reader comfort. Users will be available to find more that 6,000 e-books, including audio books, podcasts, lectures and radio programs. Signing up and signing into the app has been made easier, and users can now choose the font, color and background. Plus, driving and sleep modes were added, amongst other things.
What is Sabkultura’s target segment?
Sabkultura holds no age barriers or prejudices. It is made for readers of all ages – everyone who loves to read. That said, we think that first, Sabkultura will attract youth since our first move was to update the SABA Reader.
Under the scope of Sabkultura, are you planning to organize activities merely electronically or will they also take a real-life form?
This platform has planned future activities that will take both forms.
We heard that under the scope of Sabkultura, e-books will become more “affordable” for readers.
This has to do with the new subscription service – no matter the price of the book, by paying a minimal monthly payment, the user has full access to the SABA library. Free trial is also offered for 14 days.
Will the new platform give bigger incentive to authors to get involved? What are your future plans?
Naturally, Sabkultura does not only mean an updated application. It also means discussions, lectures, different activities concerning the book and the writer – all this will be done to help the reader circle grow. We believe that each minute spent reading changes thoughts, thoughts change actions, and the actions change the environment!
By Nini Dakhundaridze