On April 23, the world celebrates World Book and Copyright Day—a holiday for authors, publishers, critics, librarians, readers, and all those who sometimes remain “behind the scenes” of book publishing.
The decision to establish this holiday was adopted by UNESCO at its 28th session on November 15, 1995. Resolution No. 3.18 states: “The General Conference … proclaims April 23 as ‘World Book and Copyright Day,’ since it was on this day in 1616 that Miguel de Cervantes, William Shakespeare, and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega died.”
World Book and Copyright Day has been celebrated annually since 1996. Given that “in a historical sense, the book is the most powerful factor in the dissemination of knowledge and the most reliable means of its preservation,” World Book Day is intended to highlight the fundamental importance of books and their irreplaceability in the information society.
Books embody human creativity and the desire to share one’s ideas and achievements with the world; they foster dialogue, mutual understanding, and tolerance. At the same time, books are an indispensable tool for disseminating knowledge and shaping culture, regardless of the form in which information is presented. For Ukraine, in the midst of war, books have also become a source of inner strength, helping to preserve identity, language, and cultural memory in times of trial.
Around the world, this day is about a love of reading, respect for authors, and the value of culture. In Ukraine, it is also about resistance. For wherever Russia appears, books disappear. Libraries are burning. Bookstores are closing. Textbooks are being confiscated. The Ukrainian language is banned. The attack on books is no accident—it is part of Russia’s strategy.
We thank everyone who creates, reads, saves, and passes on the Ukrainian word.
Because a book is not just culture. It is memory. Identity. The future.