As people who live and breathe words every day, we at Elite Words are so excited for World Book and Copyright Day 2022. Whether you realise it or not, words, especially stories, have a huge influence on our lives, how we think, how we act and how we see the world.
Books are a chance to escape, experience new worlds or enhance the very life you live. We know a lot of people think books are a thing of the past, but they are very much alive, whether that be in the form of physical books, audiobooks or eBooks. According to Publisher’s Weekly, sales of print books alone rose at least 9% last year with 825 million books being sold. And things aren’t slowing down. If you’ve ever stumbled upon “booktok” (the book lover’s side of TikTok), you’d have seen the thriving world of books!
World Book and Copyright Day comes around every 23 April to remind us just how important stories are to our lives. It’s an annual event created by UNESCO and is celebrated by 100 countries and over a million people. It’s a fun day that sheds light on the countless books, and their authors, which have had the power to inform, entertain and inspire people of all ages and walks of life.
23 April is no random date to pick for World Book and Copyright Day. It’s actually the day legendary writers like William Shakespeare, Miguel de Cervantes, and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega died. So, it truly is a commemoration and tribute to both books and authors.
Why is copyrighting included in World Book and Copyright Day?
Yes, we need a World Book Day, but why is copyright included? Well, because without copyright we wouldn’t have books! UNESCO has decided the concept of copyright is as equally important on this day as the books we celebrate. So much work goes into creating a story or a book. To celebrate the concept of copyright is to vow to continue to protect the work, the authors and publishers who created them, as well as the libraries and stores that share them.
The head of UNESCO said it perfectly herself – books give us freedom. Each page lights the way for us to roam, free of borders or sense of time.
“We must ensure their access so that everyone can take refuge in reading, and by doing so, be able to dream, learn and reflect.” – Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO Director-General.
How to celebrate World Book and Copyright Day
This day is a day to really challenge yourself, and enjoy it while you do so. Celebrations all over the world take place on Work Book and Copyright Day. Here are some ways you can feel a part of it:
- Start reading that book you’ve been putting off for so long, or buy a new one. The New York Times bestsellers list is a good way to start.
- Experiment. Try a comic book, a manga, a self-help book or anything else that will be a new and exciting adventure for you.
- Donate or swap a book. There are so many libraries, foundations, book swaps and even street libraries for you to share the love.
- Dress up as your favourite book character – convince your friends and family to as well!
- Ever heard of #Bookface? Take a photo of yourself with a book cover in a clever way that blends reality and story, then share it on social media.
For centuries, we’ve seen books help us combat isolation, stimulate our minds and teach us new things about the world. If there’s one thing to take from the article, it’s that books really aren’t something to be taken for granted. We challenge you this World Book and Copyright Day to explore new genres, topics, formats and even languages that take you out of your comfort zone. We want you to share our love for words and have fun doing so.
The right words can tell your story. Leave your copywriting and copyediting to us! Contact us today to get your story told.
