Welsh Journals

Mae Canolfan y Llyfr wedi comisiynu Adran Astudiaethau Gwybodaeth a Llyfrgellyddiaeth, Prifysgol Cymru, Aberystwyth, i gynnal arolwg eang a manwl o gyflwr y fasnach lyfrau Gymraeg gyfoes. Noddwyd y gwaith gan nifer o gyrff. Mae'r astudiaeth eisoes wedi rhoi sylw arbennig i batrymau prynu llyfrgelloedd Cymru yn dilyn ad-drefnu llywodraeth leol, ac i lyfrgelloedd ysgolion a phlant, a'r bwriad yw dadansoddi ystadegau prynu mewn siopau llyfrau, a chynnal arolwg ymchwil farchnad ymhlith y cyhoedd a chymharu'r sefyllfa gyda'r hyn a ddarganfuwyd yn 1987, y tro diwethaf i arolwg o'r fasnach lyfrau Gymraeg gael ei gynnal. CyswlltlContact: Mr Gwilym Huws (gwh@aber.ac.uk) A number of postgraduate research studies have been completed recently at the Department of Information and Library Studies at Aberystwyth. A study of religious publishing in contemporary Wales by Huw Roberts (M.Sc.Econ. 1999) revealed that there are currently sixteen denominational and inter-denominational publications circulating in Wales, and that a11 are in receipt ofa substantial subsidy, particularly the Welsh-language publications. Distribution is heavily dependent on church networks which, bearing in mind declining church attendances, cannot augur well for their future. Nevertheless, total sales figures of newspapers and magazines are currently in excess of 80,000 per issue, with the publications of the Church in Wales and its dioceses contributing substantiaUy to this figure. Welsh- language denominational publications are declining in terms of sales: individua\ denominational papers and magazines achieve average sales offewer than 1,000 per issue, but inter- denominational material and magazines aimed at young