World Book & Copyright Day
World Book & Copyright Day is celebrated every year on 23rd April. World Book & Copyright Day is celebrated to encourage people to read and love books. Festivities occur worldwide to celebrate readers’ importance as a link between the past and the future and across cultures. On this occasion, UNESCO and the global organizations representing the three core sectors of the book business – publishers, booksellers, and libraries – designate the World Book Capital for a year to preserve the momentum of the day’s festivities via their efforts.
The charity’s goal is to promote reading for pleasure and offer every child a book of their own by the third Thursday in March 2022, with a special focus on children from disadvantaged backgrounds. This year’s theme is “You Are A Reader”
This day was an obvious option for UNESCO’s General Conference, held in Paris in 1995, to pay a global homage to books and authors on this date, urging everyone to read. UNESCO promotes creativity, diversity, and equitable access to information by advocating books and copyright, with initiatives ranging from the Creative Cities of Literature network to encouraging literacy and mobile learning and pushing Open Access to scientific research and educational materials.
Importance
World Book & Copyright Day has become a platform to rally millions of people worldwide with the active participation of all stakeholders: authors, publishers, teachers, librarians, public and private institutions, humanitarian NGOs, and the mass media. And to all those who feel motivated to work together in this world celebration of books and authors.
On 23rd April 1995, book lovers held an official gathering for the first time to discuss the significant issues of plagiarism and copyrights. World Book & Copyright Day is celebrated with great zeal in European nations such as the United Kingdom and Ireland to encourage children to develop healthy reading habits. Whole packets are also distributed to schools worldwide to guarantee that youngsters read what they wish.
Do you know? 23rd April is a significant day in global literature since several famous authors, like William Shakespeare and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, died on this date. Other renowned authors born or died on 23rd April include Maurice Druon, Haldor K.Laxness, Vladimir Nabokov, Josep Pla, and Manuel Meja Vallejo. As a result, UNESCO decided to designate this date as World Book and Copyright Day to honour writers and books worldwide. The day is also observed to encourage people to read.
Celebration
National Book Tokens Limited is in charge of distributing tokens to exchange books. As a result, around 14 million youngsters under the age of eighteen benefit significantly in this area. You may exchange these tokens at any local bookstore for eight books of one’s choosing.
Perhaps you might choose your favourite book based on a specific character, author, or topic that has captivated you throughout the years. In this sense, valuable publications by celebrity authors are easily accessible, allowing you to accomplish your long-held desire as well. In addition, a short-story writing competition is being held to encourage the practice of reading and writing among the city’s youngsters, young people, and adults.
Other European countries are also actively interested in increasing awareness about the importance of literature. For example, since 1923, booksellers in Spain have been actively involved in book promotion, allowing readers from all backgrounds to reap the most benefits. The ceremony is being held as a fitting homage to novelist Miguel de Cervantes, who died on the same day. However, because of UNESCO’s tireless efforts, the official World Book Day has been commemorated since 1995.
Several underdeveloped countries also celebrate World Book Day in their unique way. Children are given top priority since they get to read the books they have wanted to read for a long time. Publishers and authors are also known to actively advocate for Copyright Day to regularly bring to light the challenges they confront. With the aggressive use of social media, the event has already been widely publicized to the greatest extent possible. The value of reading books and preserving information is that all enthusiastic readers will learn.
All Events: 2022 Events Calendar
Fun Fact:
Which city is the first World Book Capital?
Madrid was the first city to be named World Book Capital on the sixth World Book and Copyright Day.
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