The World Book and Copyright Day was founded under the patronage of UNESCO in 1996 to promote reading, publication of books and copyright protection. April 23rd was chosen as the commemorative day, the date on which three writers, considered pillars of universal culture, died in 1616: Miguel de Cervantes, William Shakespeare and Garcilaso de la Vega.
The book and reading represent a means of deepening and of knowledge; an instrument of information and cultural learning, both indispensable today in overcoming the uncertainties and precariousness linked to the fear of globalization, of change and of diversity. Reading, which brings unparalleled pleasure for those passionate about it, permits entering into different worlds, lives and times and offers the possibility of approaching experiences and realities far from our own, thus increasing our knowledge and awareness of the multifaceted world around us.