World Book Capital 2005 - Montreal

As I have mentioned in an earlier post, Montréal has been chosen to be the World Book Capital for 2005. This is the fifth time the title of World Book Capital has been awarded by UNESCO. The inaugural city was Madrid in 2001, followed by Alexandria (2002), New Delhi (2003) and Antwep in 2004. The programme of the World Book Capital begins each year on April 23rd and runs for a year.

Montréal City Hall, at least, seems to be aware of this, thank goodness, as their official communiqué shows. However, I have seen little else on the web from other Montréal book people in anticipation of this year long event. Time to get a move on people!

Bangkok is eyeing 'World Book Capital' title for 2008. Among the criteria for being chosen is the potential of the book market, the number of publishers, local readers, and libraries, and their locations.

After Montreal, from April 2006 to April 2007, Turin will be the new World Book Capital.
UNESCO has recently given the prize to a city that has not only a rich tradition of excellence with its cultural structures, but a city that for almost twenty years has been the host of the International Book Fair, one of the most important fairs in Europe of its kind.

UPDATE: 24 April 2005

http://johnwmacdonald.com/blog/2005/04/finally-some-news-about-world-book.html