‘World Book Day’ is celebrated on 23rd April every year. It is also called World Book and Copyright Day, or International Day of the Book. It was first created in 1995 by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). The date of celebration of Book Day is a symbolic date in world literature and was chosen as an honor to the deaths of William Shakespeare, Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, and Miguel De Cervantes and several other prominent authors, who were all connected to that particular date either by birth or death.
Today, more than 100 countries all over the world are celebrating World Book Day observed by UNESCO. However, UK celebrates the World Book Day UK on the first Thursday of March every year, giving the students an opportunity to celebrate the day during the school term.
The original idea was of the Spanish writer Vicente Clavel Andrés as a way to honor the author Miguel de Cervantes, first on 7th October, his birth date, then on 23rd April, his death date. In 1995 UNESCO decided that the World Book and Copyright Day would be celebrated on 23 April, as the date is also the anniversary of the death of Miguel de Cervantes, William Shakespeare, and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, as well as that of the birth or death of several other prominent authors. (In a historical coincidence, Shakespeare and Cervantes died on the same date 23rd April 1616 but not on the same day, as at the time, Spain used the Gregorian calendar and England used the Julian calendar; Shakespeare actually died 10 days after Cervantes died, on 3rd May of the Gregorian calendar).
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, Centers and Associations, Associated Schools and Libraries, and by all those who feel motivated to work together in this world celebration of books and authors.
The main aim of World Book Day is to encourage children to explore the pleasures of reading books and providing them with me the opportunity to have a book of their own.
Through reading and the celebration of World Book and Copyright Day, 23 April, we can open ourselves to others despite the distance, and we can travel thanks to the imagination. From April 1st to 23rd, UNESCO will share quotes, poems, and messages to symbolize the power of books and encourage reading as much as possible. By creating a sense of community through the shared readings and the shared knowledge, readers around the world can connect and mutually help curb loneliness.
A library is a collection of information, sources, resources, and services, organized for use, and maintained by a public body, an institution, or a private individual. In the more traditional sense, it means a collection of books. This collection and services are used by people who choose not to or cannot afford to purchase a can reasonably be expected to have, or who require professional assistance with their research.
The World Book and Copyright Day is targeted towards promoting the enjoyment of books and reading. It also allows authors to celebrate their accomplishments and readers to recognize the scope of books and publishing. Books are considered the bridge between past and present, and across generations and cultures.
During the month of April and all year round, it is critical to take the time to read on our own or with our children. It is a time to celebrate the importance of reading, foster children’s growth as readers, and promote a lifelong love of literature and integration into the world of work.
On this day, UNESCO and international organizations take initiatives to celebrate publishers, booksellers, and libraries. The day promotes to organize events and book fests to pay tribute to books and authors, encouraging everyone to access books.
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