World Book and Copyright Day

 

World Book Day, also known as World Book and Copyright Day or International Day of the Book, is an annual event organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to promote reading, publishing, and copyright. The first World Book Day was celebrated on 23 April in 1995.

The initial idea to celebrate World Book Day was conceived by the Valencian writer Vicente Clavel Andres in order to pay homage to the brilliant author, Miguel de Cervantes (known for Don Quixote), whose death day is April 23. Following which, in 1995, during the General Conference held in Paris, the decision to mark April 23 as the World Book and Copyright Day was finalized. The reason being the significance in the date April 23 that bears witness to the birth and death of several distinguished authors around the world.

Books are incredibly important. It is to ensure the culture of reading continues to thrive and spread joy that this initiative by UNESCO was taken.

The three major sectors of the book industry consist of – the publishers, booksellers and libraries. The eventful day celebrates all three aspects to promote reading, publishing and copyright.