As World Book Day approaches, communities in Johannesburg are gearing up for a week-long celebration of the power of reading and the importance of the Copyright Act. This year, the City of Johannesburg is joining the global celebration of books and their authors with a range of events designed to inspire and educate children, teenagers, and young adults alike to read and grow. From Ennerdale to Sandton, libraries are celebrating the power of reading to transform lives.
“Our goal is to promote a reading culture in Johannesburg by creating a space where children, teenagers, and young adults can explore new worlds, ideas, and perspectives through books,” says Dr Karabo Semenya, the assistant director for liaison and public relations.
Dr Semenya is thrilled about the upcoming series of events taking place across the City including talks, discussions, and activities that highlight the joy and value of reading.
“In a world where screens dominate our daily lives, World Book Day is an opportunity to raise awareness about copyright, an essential tool for protecting the intellectual property of authors and publishers,” she explains.
World Book Day celebrations kick off on Wednesday, 19 April with a special event at the Ennerdale Extension 1 Library, where schoolchildren aged 7–13 are invited to learn about the importance of the Copyright Act.
Over the next few days, teenagers from the Naturena Library book club will share how reading books influences their lives under the theme “Read, grow, inspire”.
On Saturday, 22 April, children will be taught how to make and create their own books at the Emdeni library in Soweto, while youngsters aged 12 to 16 will read and review books at the Vlakfontein library.
“Whether you’re a seasoned bookworm or just starting on your reading journey, World Book Day is a chance to celebrate the power of words and the imagination of books,” says Dr Semenya.
Other events include a game of character charades with children from the Dorcas Centre at Westbury Library and a book talk celebrating African authors at the Diepkloof Zone 1 Library.
But it’s not just children who will be celebrating World Book Day; at the Florida Library, Grade 12 learners will be taught about the Copyright Act, correct referencing, and plagiarism.
World Book Day celebrations continue Monday, 24 April with a special event at the Sandton Library, where Advocate Thembeka Ngcukaitobi will give a speech on the importance of reading and the Copyright Act, with schools and universities invited to attend virtually or in hybrid mode.
“Reading is not just a leisure activity but an essential tool for learning and growth. Let’s celebrate World Book Day together and keep the joy of reading alive,” says Dr Semenya.
The World Book Day celebrations will culminate on a high note with children from MC Weiler Primary School visiting the River Park Library for a library orientation and information literacy session. At the Lenasia Ext. 1 Library, young adults between 18 and 25 years old will have a book discussion.
Janita Dullabh, from Lenasia Ext. 1 Library, says the celebrations are an opportunity to encourage young adults to read more.
“We want to create a space where young adults can come together and discuss books, share their thoughts and ideas, and hopefully inspire each other to read more,” Dullabh says.
World Book and Copyright Day is an annual event held on 23 April to raise awareness of the importance of books, reading, and copyright around the world. It was founded in 1995 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
On this day, different events are held across the world to honour books, writers, publishers, and copyright, such as book fairs, literary festivals, author readings and book donation drives.
Joburgers are encouraged to pick up a book, turn off their screens, and join the City and the world in celebrating the joy of reading and literacy while reflecting on the importance of copyright protection and the role it plays in encouraging creativity and innovation in the publishing industry.
UNESCO supports World Book Day to foster creativity, critical thinking, and cultural understanding.
Written by Lelethu Tyilana
19/04/2023