Constrained by prevailing pandemic conditions in the Republic of Georgia, a small but spirited weekend opens the 2021 chapter in UNESCO’s program.
The World Book Day handover from Kuala Lumpur to Tbilisi took place on World Book Day (April 23). Image: Georgian Publishers and Booksellers Association
Kaladze: ‘A Unique Opportunity’
As is its custom, UNESCO’s World Book Capital program used World Book Day (Friday, April 23) to make its transfer from the 2020 city to the new 2021 designee.
Less than three years after its 2018 Guest of Honor Georgia program at Frankfurter Buchmesse–World Book Capital Tbilisi (2021) has accepted its new designation in a handover ceremony with Kuala Lumpur (2020). Guadalajara has been named the 2022 World Book Capital by UNESCO.
Tbilisi becomes 2021 UNESCO World Book Capital
The year-long programme will introduce the Georgian literary legacy and scene to visitors while helping professionals of the field forge ties at events, and book enthusiasts celebrate their hobby. Screenshot from Tbilisi - World Book Capital video. Agenda.ge, 24 Apr 2021 - 12:02, Tbilisi,Georgia
Georgia s capital Tbilisi is about to turn into a hub for book lovers, literary organisations, publishers and bookstores over the next year as the city formally accepted the status of the 2021 UNESCO World Book Capital on Friday.
Coincided with World Book and Copyright Day on April 23, the handover of the title from Kuala Lumpur to the Georgian city was marked at a ceremony that saw in-person and remote addresses from respective mayors, the Georgian president, UNESCO representatives and more.
Data now being collected for a third year shows a distinct migration of Italian book sales from physical bookstores to online retail.
In the Piazza Maggiore, Bologna, on March 15. Image – iStockphoto: Claudio Caridi
More Book Sales, More of Them Online
Following the NPD BookScan report we covered on Monday (April 19) on the US market’s first quarter of 2021, we have today (April 20) news of a strong Q1 showing in the Italian book market, as well.
“Consolidating a trend that began in the second half of 2020,” we’re told by Ricardo Franco Levi at the Italian Booksellers Association’s (
Associazione Librai Italiani, AIE), “Italian book publishing has continued to grow in the first three months of 2021.”
TEST YOURSELF: Making reading cool again
published : 15 Apr 2021 at 14:42
Books aren’t dead, and neither are book fairs
Test Yourself is where you can improve your reading skills. Whether it’s for tests like University Entrance Exams or IELTS and TOEFL, or even just for fun, these stories help you to read, understand and improve your English.
You can download audio or a PDF of this story below.
Read the following story by Tatat Bunnag from the
Bangkok Post. Then, answer the questions that follow.
The Publishers and Booksellers Association of Thailand (Pubat) is launching its 49th National Book Fair and 19th Bangkok International Book Fair in both the digital and physical format. The National Book Fair will be held virtually from April 17-25 while the in-person event is postponed to next month.