The ceremony was addressed by President Danilo Tuerk, who said that books had played a very important role in the history of the Slovenian nation and would continue to do so in the future. He said books should not only be bought but actually read too.

The Publishers' Association, which organises the traditional fair, handed out the Schwentner life-time achievement award to Marij Maver, a Trieste-based minority publisher and editor.

Maver's greatest merit is his educational and publishing work. He became the editor of the minority magazine Mladika in 1976 and launched a joint appearance of minority publishers Mladika, ZTT and Novi Matajur at the book fair in 2003, the jury said.

The award for best literary debut went to Katja Perat for her poetry collection "Najboljsi so padli" (The Best Have Fallen).

Its tireless deconstruction of empty words, connected to the precise poetic imagination and strong awareness of the kitsch of the modern plurality ensures the collection the broadest possible audience, the judges said.

The Association of Slovenian Literary Translators presented the award for young translator to Stana Anzelj, for her translation of "The City of Dreaming Books" and the Winged Lion award for the best overall book to Gorenjski tisk for a book on the Julian Alps, which was published by Klagenfurt-based publisher Mohorjeva zalozba.

The best book design awards went to publisher Mis for Sasa Pavcek's "Obleci me v poljub" (Dress Me in a Kiss), to Vodnikova zalozba DSKG for "Cudezni Prstan" (The Magic Ring) by Petra Svetina and to Zalozba Rokus Klett for Janez Bogataj's book of recipes "Mojstrovine s kranjsko klobaso iz Slovenije".

To mark the 50th anniversary of the Reading Badge competition, the organisers awarded special plaques to all the presidents of the Reading Badge competition.

The fair, running until Sunday, will feature some 100 exhibitors and more than 100 events, including panels, book presentations and events for children.