To honor and give renewed respect for the contributions of those who further the social and cultural progress of humanity, a World Book and Copyright Day is celebrated yearly on April 23, a symbolic date for world literature, because it is the birth date of such prominent authors such as Miguel de Cervantes, William Shakespeare, and Vladimir Nabokov, and is therefore a popular choice to pay a worldwide tribute to books and authors.

The idea, first initiated by the International Publisher's Association, was unanimously adopted in 1995. First celebrated under the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), it has promoted reading, publishing, and the protection of intellectual property through copyright laws. It has made reading as important as ever and its success has depended primarily on the support it continues to receive from all parties concerned - authors, publishers, teachers, librarians, private and public institutions, and the mass media.

Since the day was first observed eight years ago, the UNESCO has mobilized these agencies and all who feel the motivation to work together in the celebration of books and authors. The dissemination of books has served not only to enlighten those who have access to them, but also to develop fuller collective awareness of cultural traditions throughout the world and to inspire behavior based on consideration, broadmindedness, and exchange of ideas.

In the last century, the proliferation of books as channels for communication has greatly improved the awareness of readers, especially on the true picture of social conditions and the world of books. Books and authors have also been cleared through a minefield of censorship and prejudice which has made it possible for whole generations to focus on life as it is rather than on what it ought to be. As a key to a finer sphere in thinking and outlook in life, books shape and rearrange the facts available to readers and offer them the necessary insights to lead fulfilling and rewarding lives.