Twenty years ago the professional organizations of the book chain, following the success of the World Book and Copyright Day had the idea to nominate the best city program aimed at promoting books during the period between one « Book Day » and the next. UNESCO as the international organization aiming to foster peace through cooperation in education, sciences and culture decided that it would grant its moral and intellectual support to the conception and implementation of this initiative. That is how in 2001, Madrid became the first city to be designated as the World book capital.
This initiative was a way to promote books and reading in local communities as well as foster some new collaborations between actors of the book chain like authors, publishers, book shops, libraries and so on. The criteria on which the nomination by the Advisory Committee – made up of one representative of the International Authors Forum, the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, the International Publishers Association and one UNESCO representative – are still the same as twenty years ago and mainly focused on the implication of all the organizations working with books in the development of a program promoting reading and writing to a large audience.
Cities from all continents, from western countries to developing ones, have received this designation. The particularity of this program is that it does not come with financial support and it is down to the organizer to raise funds and find the budget to develop the activities intended. Reports from former World Book capitals suggest that the program has played a key part in the advocacy for books and reading. Within Europe the role of books, reading and libraries still need to be championed but overall the policies in favor of literacy are implemented which raises the question of the purpose of applying for such a designation especially considering the financial situation of many local authorities.
In 2015, the UN General Assembly adopted the Sustainable Development Goals defined in Agenda 2030. UNESCO being part of the United Nation organization is also involved in the implementation of actions that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth, all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests. Many programs carried by UNESCO are taking into account the SDGs framework and the designation of future World Book Capital should also take this element into account. Moving forward if the World Book Capital designation is linked with environmental and social justice issues, applying for it might be more meaningful for countries over the world but especially in the EU.
Reading is an essential skill for people to help them access information and form their opinion on key issues about society and our planet. Books still represent a great way to access knowledge, stories and testimonies that can help everyone be informed, inspired and more aware of the world we live in as well as helping people take actions. Libraries have understood it for a long time and are institutions at the crossroads of so many issues such as education, employment, health, environnement… Ioannis Trohopoulos, who conducted the project of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center in Athens and then served in Greece as the head of the Athens 2018-World Book Capital, he convinced that the future for literacy and book related programs is to reflect, among other things, the current issues the world is facing especially regarding the environmental crisis. Events like the World Book Capital should take this into closer consideration especially now that the COVID 19 sanitary crisis has shown us the fragilities within our societies.
As Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay mentioned in her speech on the occasion of World Book and Copyright Day 2021, « the power of books must be fully harnessed. We must ensure their access so that everyone can take refuge in reading, and by doing so, be able to dream, learn and reflect », and may I had : act about global issues.
This article was written by Floriane-Marielle JOB for the EBLIDA Newsletter in May 2021.