World Book and Copyright Day 23 April 2009
By celebrating this Day throughout the world, UNESCO seeks to promote reading, publishing and the protection of intellectual property through copyright.
23 April: a symbolic date for world literature for on this date and in the same year of 1616, Cervantes, Shakespeare and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega all died. It is also the date of birth or death of other prominent authors such as Maurice Druon, K.Laxness, Vladimir Nabokov, Josep Pla and Manuel Mejía Vallejo. It was a natural choice for UNESCO's General Conference to pay a world-wide tribute to books and authors on this date, encouraging everyone, and in particular young people, to discover the pleasure of reading and gain a renewed respect for the irreplaceable contributions of those who have furthered the social and cultural progress of humanity.
The idea for this celebration originated in Catalonia where on 23 April, Saint George's Day, a rose is traditionally given as a gift for each book sold. The success of the World Book and Copyright Day will depend primarily on the support received from all parties concerned (authors, publishers, teachers, librarians, public and private institutions, humanitarian NGOs and the mass media), who have been mobilized in each country by UNESCO National Commissions, UNESCO Clubs, Centres and Associations, Associated Schools and Libraries, and by all those who feel motivated to work together in this world celebration of books and authors.
2009 Initiatives
For the 2009 edition of the Day, UNESCO suggests to explore the topic of the paramount function of books for the development of quality education, as well as the link between publishing and human rights.
The message of the Director-General, the poster and information on the activities of the Day will be available soon.
The World Book and Copyright Day Day was celebrated in the UK in Ireland earlier this month, on Thursday 5 March and around 13 million book tokens were distributed in schools and pre-schools in the UK to promote reading.
Events in preparation for April 23rd :
A series of events wille take place on 23rd April at UNESCO Headquarters. A "big read", a round table on literate environments and the official launching of the Beirut World Book Capital City 2009, are included in the program of Day. Contact: m.rosi@unesco.org
WBCD poster exhibition at the Medical School of the Seoul National University. Contact: soyoung@unesco.or.kr.
A special edition of Mauritius Library Information Blog will be published for 23rd of April : http://liamofmauritius.wordpress.com/
The State Library of Victoria (Australia) is launching a major new exhibition called The Independent Type: Books and Writing in Victoria on Thursday 23rd April 2009 to celebrate Melbourne's new status as a UNESCO City of Literature. The exhibition will explore the history of writing in the state of Victoria from pre-contact times until the present day. Information available at http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/goto/independent-type in April 2009.
The National Library of Luxembourg organizes the World Book and Copyright Day at Grand Duché of Luxembourg from 23rd to 25th April 2009. Program and information available at http://www.liesen.lu/
The Coalición de Libreros (Booksellers Association) of Mexico organizes a series of event from 16 to 26 April at the Explanada de la Presidencia Municipal, in Tacamac. The main event is a reading marathon taking place on 23 April.
Melbourne Conversations is launching a public meeting with the philosopher and writer Alain De Botton. The event will be held on Thursday 23rd Avril, at 6.30 PM at RMIT Stoney Hall Auditorium, Melbourne, Australie. Reservations and information: events@reading.com.au
The National Commission of Andorra for UNESCO organizes a public reading on Thursday 23rd April.The event will take place at Andorra la Vella village's square.More information: cnau.unesco@andorra.ad
The WBCC programme of the Nigeria National Committee on Read Campaign includes the following activities: reading competition for school pupils; celebrity reading in mother language; art and book exhibition. Contact: francescaedeghere@yahoo.com
The Steering Copyright Committee of Colombia organizes three international seminaries from 20th to 24th April in Bogotá and Medellín.The three seminaries focus on copyright, cultural industries and audiovisual sector.Information: http://www.derechodeautor.gov.co/
On the 23rd of April, the association of editors and bookstores in Bosnia-Herzegovina organises several events dedicated to the World Book and Copyright Day in the context of the 21st Sarajevo International Book Fair which will be held from the 22th to 27th April 2009.
The Pakistan Library Council organises a walk from Press Club to Arts Council in Karachi on the 25th April 2009 for celebrating the World Book and Copyright Day. More information: http://paklibcouncil.weebly.com/activities.html
The Children's Art Institute of Toronto celebrates the IV centenary of the first publication of "Comentarios Reales" ( Royal Commentaries) of Inca Garcilaso de la Vega. This event will be held on 23 April 2009 at the University of Toronto at 7.00 p.m. Information: teresa.chavezsuarez@utoronto.ca
The Association France - Catalan Mediterranean Countries organizes an event entitled "The Caravan Catalan" inclduing a number of economic and cultural activities to strengthen the links between Algeria and the Mediterranean countries. The second stage of this event will be held from April 22 to 24 among Spain, Algeria and Tunisia, at the framework of World Book and Copyright Day ( traditionally called "The Book and Rose Day" in Catalonia). Information: http://afrancemediterraneee.free.fr/telechargements.htm
The Café Iruña y La Granja in Bilbao ( Basque country, Spain) takes part in the celebration of the World Book and Copyright Day on Thursday 23rd of April by offering a book to all its customers. Information: http://www.cafesdebilbao.net/
The Alma Library of India organizes an exhibition on the "Copyright Awareness Campaign" . Information: http://www.niapune.com/
The Catalan Institute of America held an event at the Barnes & Noble’s store at the Lincoln Triangle in New York on Sunday April 19th to celebrate the World Book and Copyright Day and the tradition of "Sant Jordi", with the participation of UNESCO.
The Korean Publishers Society (KOPUS) organizes a series of events from 20 to 30 April, including flowers, books and poster donations, as well as the brodcast of a documentary film on books and reading on the Korean Broadcasting System. Contact: kopus@kopus.org; eakim@unesco.or.kr
In the framework of the National Program for the promotion of reading, the Institute of Culture of the Tabasco Government in Mexico organizes various activities of reading and books in its 572 public libraries on the 23rd of April.Contact:http://portal.unesco.org/culture/en/agv66@hotmail.com
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