April 23, 2012 is World Book and Copyright Day sponsored by UNESCO. Ingrid Parent, President of IFLA (International Federation of Library Associations), issued a video statement about the importance of books. World Book Night also takes place today.
From a Text Summary of Parent’s Comments:
In her video message, IFLA President Ingrid Parent addressed the importance of books as irreplaceable sources of knowledge, ideas and innovation. “In books we find the wealth and wisdom of the world”, Parent said. Parent also remembered all people who cannot read, “be it through illiteracy, through censorship or through language barriers. When people have no access to books and information, they are excluded from the world’s wealth and wisdom.”
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IFLA and its members in more than 150 countries worldwide believe that people, communities and organisations need universal and equitable access to information, ideas and works of imagination for their social, educational, cultural, democratic and economic well-being.
23 April is a symbolic date for world literature, since 23 April 1616 was the date of death of Miguel de Cervantes and William Shakespeare. Initiated in 1995 by UNESCO, this date pays a worldwide tribute to books and their authors, and encourages everyone to discover the pleasure of reading and to gain a renewed respect for the extraordinary contributions of those who have furthered the social and cultural progress of humanity.
See Also: Official World Book and Copyright Day Page (via UNESCO)
See Also: World Book Night to Hand Out Half a Million Free Books (via Library Journal)
by Meredith Schwartz
About Gary Price
