As expressed in the statement given by UNESCO, Wroclaw has been singled out for its special focus on grass-root community involvement, as well as its promotion of publishing, book-selling industries and libraries.
The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, was happy to accept the excellent programme to promote reading throughout the year that the civic leaders of Wroclaw had developed.
The selection committee which chooses World Book Capitals is comprised of UNESCO representatives as well as international industry organisations – the International Publishers Association (IPA), International Booksellers Federation (IBF) and the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA). The year starts on April 23, on World Book and Copyright Day.
Wrocław is the 16th city to be chosen as World Book Capital after South Korea’s Incheon (2015) and this year’s Nigerian Port Harcourt (2014). Based on the positive experience of World Book and Copyright Day, launched in 1996, UNESCO launched the concept of World Book Capital City and nominated Madrid as the first capital in 2001, followed by Egypt's Alexandria (2002), New Delhi (2003), Antwerp (2004), Montreal (2005), Turin (2006), Bogota (2007), Amsterdam (2008), Beirut (2009), Ljubljana (2010), Buenos Aires (2011), Yerevan (2012), and Bangkok (2013).
There is still some time before Wrocław turns into World Book Capital for the year 2016 - in the meanwhile, have a look at the Literature Lover's Guide to Poland.
Sources: PAP
Translated by: Kasia Dolato