World Book Day

The Council for Cultural Affairs in association with local governments and book clubs held a series of events to celebrate World Book Day on April 23. The event was held this year in central Taiwan to promote reading as a way to help families rebuild after the earthquake that devastated the region last year. This year's program included a four-session workshop to promote the establishment of 100 book clubs in quake-devastated areas. The New Century Book Club Alliance invited members of 100 existing book clubs to provide long-term training and guidance to help new clubs get off the ground. Representatives of Singaporean and Malaysian book clubs were also invited to Taiwan to take part in the event. The United Nations designated April 23 as World Book Day in 1995, giving bibliophiles around the globe a special day of their own.