World Book Day push

World Book and Copyright Day is putting libraries, bookshops and reading habits back in the spotlight on April 23, as UNESCO pushes access to books as a public good. (unesco.org) UNESCO marks World Book and Copyright Day every year on April 23 and says the date is meant to promote reading, publishing and the protection of intellectual property through copyright. UNESCO also named Rabat, Morocco, as its World Book Capital for 2026 after Rio de Janeiro held the title for 2025. (unesco.org 1) (unesco.org 2) In its World Book messaging, UNESCO has tied books to “creativity and learning” and has kept libraries at the center of that argument, describing them as part of the infrastructure that widens access to culture, education and information. Its recent coverage has also highlighted library spaces from Mexico to other cities as civic institutions, not just book storage. (unesco.org 1) (unesco.org 2) The push lands as reading advocates try to turn concern about fragmented attention into a daily habit change. The American Psychological Association’s recent interview with University of California, Irvine professor Gloria Mark said digital multitasking is stressful and undermines sustained focus. (apa.org) Research reviews have linked recreational reading with lower stress, relaxation and other nonliteracy benefits, though the evidence base is mixed and not every claimed effect is settled science. A National Institutes of Health-hosted review on book reading and cognitive functioning said those broader benefits have been reported in prior literature while also noting that causal effects remain unclear. (nih.gov) The books trade is also offering a more concrete signal. Publishers Weekly reported that U.S. print book sales rose 0.3% in 2025 over 2024, extending a second straight year of gains after children’s titles offset softer adult sales. (publishersweekly.com) In the United Kingdom and Ireland, the independent bookselling picture is stronger than the pre-pandemic low but weaker than some celebratory social posts suggest. The Booksellers Association said 45 independent bookshops opened in 2024, down from 51 in 2023, while total shop numbers stayed above the 2016 low of 867. (booksellers.org.uk) That matters because the headline numbers are not the same everywhere. The Bookseller reported in January 2025 that the number of independent bookshops in the United Kingdom fell from 1,063 to 1,052 in 2024 as operators faced higher costs and tight margins. (thebookseller.com) World Book Day’s annual pitch is simple: make time to read, and keep the places that lend and sell books open. On April 23, UNESCO is again using the day to argue that access to books still depends on physical institutions as much as personal habit. (unesco.org)