USM PENANG, July 2020 – Penerbit USM is participating in the 39th series of the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair (KLIBF), which in a historic move, is held online, offering avid readers the “new normal” of book selection and buying experience. 

Instead of weaving through the crowd and enduring long queues, book lovers can choose their selected titles and make purchases from the comfort of their own home. 

The KLIBF Online takes place between 25th June and 8th July 2020, involving more than 140 publishers and booksellers. The country’s largest book fair offers over 30,000 titles, with Shopee collaborating as the event’s main e-commerce platform. 

Mouth-watering discounts and deals have been offered to Penerbit USM’s customers. These include up to 90% discount, books selling as low as RM7, as well as attractive gifts and vouchers. 

According to the Penerbit USM Director, A’watif Ahmad, the KLIBF Online initiative undertaken by the organiser, Majlis Buku Kebangsaan Malaysia (MBKM), is a welcoming move as the country continues its precautionary approach in mitigating the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“The current pandemic has changed many aspects of consumerism, including customers’ behavioural pattern and buying preferences. We are therefore compelled to adapt to the new normal of doing things and react proactively to these shifts to remain competitive and stay relevant.”

For Penerbit USM, the online book fair is also an opportunity to continue scaling up its e-commerce brand, KaryaUSM.my. Launched in 2015, KaryaUSM.my offers online buying experience to customers as e-commerce continues its upward momentum among Malaysian consumers.

“What is interesting is that during the movement control order (MCO), readership pattern seems to be on the rise, with many publishers, including us, seeing higher demand and orders of titles. We see this as an opportunity in disguise,” added A’watif.

In conjunction with KLIBF Online, Penerbit USM also provides a virtual platform called the Online Purple Republic via Penerbit USM Facebook, which offers audiences live access to the publisher’s authors, personnel and selected figures through book talks and forums.

Penerbit USM is an award-winning scholarly publisher with numerous accolades including Anugerah Akademik Negara, Anugerah Buku Negara, Anugerah Majlis Penebitan Ilmiah Malaysia (MAPIM) and the Ministry of Education’s CRÈME journal awards.

Text: Mohd Zaidi Abdullah & Mohd Yusri Kamaruddin (Penerbit USM)