SloveniaThe article discusses Mitja Čander, the long-time director and editor of the publishing house Babel, who recently celebrated his 30th anniversary at the helm. It explores the challenges faced by Babel, including financial difficulties caused by the closure of their e-book platform Biblos after the establishment of the state platform Cobiss Ela in June 2024. Despite these issues, the publisher has avoided bankruptcy and forced liquidation, thanks to contributions from all four founding members, including Čander and his wife, who have invested their savings. The article highlights the importance of Babel as a cultural institution and its role in supporting diverse authors and innovative projects such as digitization and accessibility for people with disabilities. However, the publisher has had to cut back on certain programs, including international collaborations and festivals like the Days of Poetry and Wine, which were popular in regions like Goriška and Ptuj.
Bias read (Center): While the article covers a cultural institution facing governmental and policy-related challenges (such as the impact of state platforms on private publishers), it does not take a clear ideological stance. The focus is on the operational and financial struggles of Babel rather than promoting a left-
