WORLD Book and Copyright Day is on Wednesday, April 23.
In 2007, we in Guyana marked the occasion with an exhibition of Guyanese books and a photographic display of Guyanese writers. This exhibition was staged at the National Library under the auspices of the National Library in collaboration with this writer who coordinated the event. The theme on that occasion was ‘Guyana – Land of Many writers’. On display were rare and out-of-print books that have impacted the international landscape of literature. The photographic display of our writers caused quite a stir among younger patrons. Schoolchildren, for the first time, perhaps, were able to put a face to writers like Martin Carter, E R Braithwaite, Edgar Mittelholzer, Pauline Melville, Grace Nichols, Rajkumari Singh, and Mahadai Das among others.

Although this effort may have escaped international attention; although this effort was not noted on the website of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), it was significant and effective in furthering the objectives set out by that organisation for World Book and Copyright Day.

World Book and Copyright Day was established in 1995 by UNESCO. This move resulted from deliberations at the level of its General Conference, a move that would serve as a worldwide celebration of books to promote reading, and to encourage publishing and the protection of intellectual property through copyright.

The General Conference, in a proclamation issued back then, held that:

“… historically, books have been the most powerful factor in the dissemination of knowledge and the most accurate means of preserving it…

“[and] that all moves to promote their dissemination will serve not only greatly to enlighten all those who have access to them, but also to develop fuller collective awareness of cultural traditions throughout the world and to inspire behaviour based on understanding, tolerance and dialogue.”

The idea of having a World Book and Copyright Day has its genesis in an interesting affair practised in Spain. Some eight decades ago in the Region of Catalonia, a tradition started whereby on St George’s Day, which is on April 23, a rose was given as a gift for each book sold.

The day April 23 was adopted, according to UNESCO, because it was on that date in 1616 that Miguel de Cervantes, William Shakespeare and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega died.

April 23 is also associated with the birth or death of other well-known writers like Vladimir Nabokov, K Laxness, Josep Pla, Murice Druon, and Manuel Mejia Vallejo.

The parameters for World Book and Copyright Day expands each year with innovative initiatives to capture and maintain attention on various aspects of the book industry. In 2007, for instance, the emphasis was on providing “a further opportunity for political decision-makers, economic operators and civil society stakeholders to pay tribute to that unique tool for expression, education and communication: The book.”

In 2006, it was on “the key role played by translators, without whom intercultural dialogue through books would not be possible.”

Apart from working on a theme each year, UNESCO embarked on another initiative under the mandate of World Book and Copyright Day project. In 2001, it implemented World Book Capital City to support programmes for the publishing industry. This new dimension in publishing further enhances the role of books in society as an instrument of expression, debate, education, research, and communication. This year, World Book Capital City is Amsterdam, the Netherlands’ teeming capital. In 2007, it was Bogotá, capital of Colombia here in South America.

A day to celebrate books is a laudable initiative. We in Guyana are always celebrating books. Some books published in recent times have evoked debate and controversy, while others have been found to be informing as well as entertaining.

Already, for 2008, numerous Guyanese titles have been published and there has been a significant number of book launches. For 2008, Guyana has embarked upon an ambitious project labelled the ‘Guyana Classics’, wherein at least five of some 30 Guyanese rare and out-of-print titles will be published, some to be launched at Carifesta X in August.

Guyana is hosting Carifesta X, an event in which the Literary Arts will play a major role. The idea of having a Caribbean Festival of Creative Arts came out of the deliberations of our custodians of word and ideas.

In his message to mark World Book and Copyright Day 2008, Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO is quoted as saying:

“Books contribute to shaping and maintaining the educational, cultural and economic fabric of our societies, and play multiple and fundamental roles in it.

“These works of the mind protected by copyright, which enrich the intangible heritage of humanity, are also merchandise, a duality that has been highlighted and analysed on many occasions. Books are thus the pivot in a vast chain of income generating activities and professions, and an important component of economic development.”

Responses to this author telephone (592) 226-0065 or email: oraltradition2002@yahoo.com

Literary update:
* Please contact this writer on matters concerning THE LITERARY ARTS for CARIFESTA X to be staged in Guyana from August 22 to August 31, 2008; such matters include the ‘Book Fair’, ‘Book Launches’, ‘Readings’, the publication of ‘An Anthology of Caribbean Poetry’, ‘survey’ of 100 best books of the Caribbean and ‘audition’ for performance/dramatic poetry.