World Book Day push

April 23 is World Book and Copyright Day, and UNESCO is using this year’s observance to put libraries at the center of the pitch for reading. (unesco.org) UNESCO marks the date each year to promote books, authors, copyright and access to knowledge, and its World Book Capital program says host cities are expected to build literacy, lifelong learning and freedom of expression into local policy. (unesco.org 1) (unesco.org 2) For 2026, Rabat is UNESCO’s World Book Capital after the agency named the Moroccan capital in October 2024, following Rio de Janeiro’s 2025 term. (unesco.org) UNESCO’s messaging around April 23 has also leaned on libraries as the practical side of reading culture: places that preserve books, widen access and keep print collections available as digital habits dominate more of daily life. (unesco.org) That message landed alongside lifestyle coverage that framed reading as a direct substitute for screen time, not just a cultural ideal. India TV on April 23 urged readers to swap 30 minutes of scrolling for reading and said the change can improve focus, memory and mental wellbeing. (indiatvnews.com) The same India TV explainer said scrolling often leaves people with “scattered thoughts” and mental fatigue, while reading asks for sustained attention over a longer stretch. (indiatvnews.com) UNESCO’s World Book Capital program gives that argument a civic frame: the agency says participating cities use yearlong book policies and events to expand equitable opportunities for reading and writing, not just one-day campaigns. (unesco.org) The April 23 push also kept one older World Book Day habit in circulation — giving books as gifts — tying a personal ritual to UNESCO’s broader case that books still matter as shared public goods. (indiatvnews.com) So this year’s message is arriving on two tracks at once: read for 30 minutes if you want a calmer, more focused half hour, and support the libraries and book systems that make that choice possible. (unesco.org) (indiatvnews.com)