Question NW792 to the Minister of Arts and Culture

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18 May 2020 - NW792

Profile picture: Van Dyk, Ms V

Van Dyk, Ms V to ask the Minister of Arts and Culture

(1) (a) Who (i) authorised and (ii) signed off the printing of Simply Larry by the National Library of South Africa (NLSA), (b) was the decision in line with the rules of the NLSA publishing grant policy and (c) who decided to print 1 000 copies instead of 300 as policy dictates; (2) whether the biography that was printed falls within the scope of books authorised to be published under the NLSA grant; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) whether the biography belongs to a certain person (details furnished); if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the further relevant details?

Reply:

1. (a) (i) The National Librarian and CEO

(ii) The Acting Director: Centre for the Book

(b). The decision to publish the manuscript was in-line with the Community Publishing Grant’s Guidelines for Special Projects. While the Community Publishing Grant focuses on fiction works, the Special Projects focus on non-fiction work that capture the history of our country not captured in conventional history books.

(c) The decision to published 1000 copies was dictated by the potential demand for the book in the market.

2. The biography falls within the scope of the Community Publishing Grant’s Special Projects as it focuses on non-fiction work that capture the history of our country not captured in conventional history books.

3. The biography tells the story of Father Laurence McDonnell, fondly known as Larry and his relationship with South African liberation struggle heroes.

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