World Book and Copyright Day 2024: Know Theme, History, Significance, and More

World Book and Copyright Day 2024: It is also known as World Book Day. It is celebrated every year on April 23 to highlight the importance of reading books. According to UNESCO, "Storytelling is an incredibly effective tool when it comes to educating younger generations." The day is also dedicated to paying respect to renowned authors, including William Shakespeare, Miguel Cervantes, and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, who died on this day. 

The city of Strasbourg, with its rich history and cultural heritage, has been recognised as UNESCO's World Book Capital for 2024. The day is celebrated by UNESCO and other related organisations across the world to honour authors, and books, promote the art of reading, etc.

World Book and Copyright Day: History

UNESCO has selected 23rd April as World Book Day to pay tribute to great literary figures including William Shakespeare, Miguel Cervantes, and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega who died on this day. In 1995, this date was finalised by the UNESCO General Conference, held in Paris, to pay tribute and honour authors and books worldwide.

What is Copyright?

It is a legal concept, enacted by most governments, giving authors or creators of original work exclusive rights usually for a limited time. Basically, it is the right to copy. It also gives the copyright holder the right to be credited for the work and other, related rights. So, it is an intellectual property form.

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World Book Day 2024: Theme

The theme for this year's World Book and Copyright Day is 'Read Your Way'. This theme emphasises on the importance of cultivating a passion for reading.

World Book Day 2023 theme is “Indigenous Languages”. This theme highlights the rich cultural heritage and the importance of native languages in literature and storytelling.

The theme for World Book and Copyright Day 2022 is “Read, so you never feel low”. The theme focuses on the scope of reading.

"Indeed, books are vital vehicles to access, transmit and promote education, science, culture, and information worldwide."— Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO's message on the occasion of World Book and Copyright Day 2022.

Audrey Azoulay, the Director-General of UNESCO named Tbilisi (Georgia) the World Book Capital of the year 2021. The decision was based on the recommendation of the World Book Capital Advisory Committee. The slogan is Ok. So your next book is...? The programme was focused on the use of modern technologies as powerful tools for the promotion of reading among young people.

According to the Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, the theme/message of 2020 sums up in these words: "Books have the unique ability both to entertain and to teach. They are at once a means of exploring realms beyond our personal experience through exposure to different authors, universes, and cultures, and a means of accessing the deepest recesses of our inner selves."

In 2019, it was “Books are a form of cultural expression that lives through and as part of a chosen language. Each publication is created in a distinct language and is intended for a language-specific reading audience. A book is thus written, produced, exchanged, used, and appreciated in a given linguistic and cultural setting. This year we highlight this important dimension because 2019 marks the International Year of Indigenous Languages, led by UNESCO, to reaffirm the commitment of the international community to supporting indigenous peoples to preserve their cultures, knowledge, and rights.”

World Book and Copyright Day: Purpose

On this occasion, worldwide tribute are given to books and authors, as well as to encourage people to discover the pleasure of reading. This will generate respect for those who have made irreplaceable contributions to social and cultural progress. The UNESCO Prize for Children's and Young People's Literature in the Service of Tolerance is awarded. Also, this day will increase understanding among people regarding copyright laws and other measures to protect intellectual copyright.

No doubt this day will become a platform for people across the world, especially the stakeholders of the book industry, including authors, publishers, teachers, librarians, public and private institutions, humanitarian NGOs, and the mass media, to come together to promote literacy and help everyone have access to educational resources.

World Book and Copyright Day: Celebrations

This day's celebrations focus on literature and reading particularly emphasising the importance of enhancing and protecting Indigenous languages. UNESCO has been effectively committed to Indigenous people since the adoption of the Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (link is external) in September 2007 and continues to work towards better recognition of their rights. UNESCO also supports local communities to promote and preserve their knowledge and language. Knowledge is never wasted, and it is said that the book brings people together around a story and a common heritage while revealing their specificities through different cultures, identities, and languages.

To maintain the celebrations of books and reading, the World Book Capital is selected by UNESCO and other organisations representing publishers, booksellers, and libraries. Tbilisi, Georgia, was UNESCO's World Book Capital 2021.

Generally, we won't get time to read on our own or with the children. Through reading and the celebration of World Book and Copyright Day, we can open ourselves to others despite the distance, and we can travel via imagination.

World Book Day: Symbols

Every year, posters are designed and circulated around the world to promote books, reading, understanding, etc. The poster images are designed in a way to encourage people, particularly children, to read books and appreciate literature. In fact, the logo is also mentioned for World Book and Copyright Day. 

World Book and Copyright Day is an event celebrated on the 23rd of April to encourage people about books, reading, understanding copyright laws, and measures to protect intellectual copyright.

Source: Unesco.org

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