World Book and Copyright Day 2016 observed across the world

The World Book and Copyright Day was celebrated on 23 April 2016 across the world. The events on this day are organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), to promote reading, publishing and copyright.

The day was first celebrated on 23 April 1995.

World Book Capital 2016: Wroclaw, Poland
Every year, UNESCO and the international organizations representing the three major sectors of the book industry - publishers, booksellers and libraries, select the World Book Capital for a one-year period, effective 23 April each year.

This year the city of Wroclaw was chosen as the World Book Capital 2016 for its commitment to spread the message of the power of books to nurture creativity.

Background
23 April is considered as a symbolic date for world literature. In 1616, on this date Cervantes, William Shakespeare and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega died. It is also the date of birth or death of other prominent authors such as Maurice Druon, Haldor K Laxness, Vladimir Nabokov and Manuel Mejia Vallejo.

In 1995, UNESCO in its General Conference in Paris, paid a world-wide tribute to books and authors on this date by encouraging everyone to discover the pleasure of reading. In this regard, UNESCO created the World Book and Copyright Day.

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