Conakry, Guinea announced as World Book Capital City 2017

Conakry, the capital of Guinea, has been awarded the title of World Book Capital City 2017 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in association with the International Publishers Association (IPA), the European and International Booksellers Federation (EIBF) and the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA). IPA Secretary General Jens Bammel said despite the factors ‘working against the development of a strong reading culture’, such as ‘low household incomes, low literacy rates, a weak library system and a fragile book industry’, Guineans have ‘a huge appetite for books and education’. Bammel said the appointment should ‘drive improvements in literacy, publishing infrastructure and access to books, leading to a stronger reading culture’. The appointment is a ‘symbolic acknowledgement of the best programme dedicated to books and reading’ from the candidates and does not include a cash prize. As previously reported by Books+Publishing, Polish city Wroclaw was announced as the World Book City for 2016 and Incheon in South Korea currently holds the title for 2015.

Category: International news