World Book Day
Window on Cultures, Bridge between Civilizations
Celebrating World Book Day
By Consuelo Remmert for the Chronicle
| Home | In This Issue | Archive | Français | Contact Us | Subscribe | Links |
| Article |
| Every year since 1996 UNESCO has celebrated "World Book and Copyright Day" on 23 April to promote reading, writing and the protection of intellectual property. Miguel de Cervantes, William Shakespeare and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega died on that day in 1616, rendering it a significant date in literary history. "As vectors of creation, information and education, [books] allow every culture to print their essential features and to see the identity of others. As windows on the diversity of cultures and bridges between civilizations, beyond time and space, books are a source of dialogue, a means of exchange and a source of development", said UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura. UN General Assembly President Jan Kavan emphasized the importance of printed books despite the recent availability of digital reading materials. "Books have been precious tools for documenting and transmitting learning and knowledge", he said on World Book Day. "Each recorded piece of information has allowed succeeding generations to add to this repository of knowledge, thus, mankind has progressed to our present level of technologically advanced civilization". The UNESCO General Conference commemorates the power of books to disseminate and preserve knowledge, as well as the fundamental role of books and authors in the social and cultural advancement of humanity. "Books are still the best medium for sowing the seeds of tolerance, and the young mind is fertile ground for such seeds, which must be planted early if they are to grow and develop", Mr. Matsuura said. Several programmes demonstrate the Organization's commitment to literacy. Established in 1948, the "Index Translatorium" is an international and interdisciplinary bibliography of translations available online, in CD-ROM and in print. UNESCO also supports regional co-publication programmes in Africa and the Asia-Pacific region that supply books to women, children and those who have recently acquired reading skills. |
| Links |
| World Book and Copyright Day - UNESCO |
| UN Dag Hammarskjöld Library |
| Home | In This Issue | Archive | Français | Contact Us | Subscribe | Links |