On the Occasion of the World Book and Copyright Day, IAF’s Chair, John Degen stated: “Always remember that copyright and cultural access are positively linked. If our shared culture is a beautiful park we all enjoy, copyright is the boundary that defines the park, making it available for all users, and protecting those who work in it.”

World Book and Copyright Day is a celebration to promote the enjoyment of books and reading. Each year, on 23 April, celebrations take place all over the world to recognize the scope of books – a link between the past and the future, a bridge between generations and across cultures.

23 April is an important date in world literature, it is the date on which several prominent authors, William Shakespeare, Miguel de Cervantes and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega died. UNESCO chose this date at its 1995 General Conference in Paris in 1995, to pay worldwide recognition to books and authors on this date, acknowledging the contribution of authors around the world to culture and the importance of books to readers.

In addition to acknowledging the importance of World Book Day, the International Authors Forum along with UNESCO, the International Publishers Association (IPA) and the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions select the World Book Capital for a year to help maintain these important values. Following on from Tbilisi (Georgia) Guadalajara (Mexico) will become the World Book Capital for 2022.