Skopje, 24 April 2023 (MIA) – The world of books is the world of endless possibilities. The world of books, alongside the world of arts, is the meaning of human existence. To read a book is to discover a new world, for as long as humans have a need for knowledge, for storytelling and reading, according to professor Ana Stojanoska, who read this message at the St. Clement of Ohrid National & University Library on Monday, in honor of World Book and Copyright Day, April 23, established in 1995 by UNESCO.

The world marks this day every year as a symbolic date of world literature, because it is connected to brilliant literary figures such as Miguel de Cervantes, Shakespeare, Lope de Vega and others. The idea is based on the old Catalan tradition to give a book and a rose.

The St. Clement of Ohrid National & University Library coordinates activities throughout the country, backed this year by the Spanish and German embassies, as well as the publishing houses Ars Lamina and Ars Studio.

In her message, Stojanoska says that books hold all answers, and that they have existed since the earliest attempts of man to tell stories and leave a mark through time.

“We need books now more than ever before, especially in an impatient world, when humanity is so close to its own destruction. Children need books to study about the world they’re meeting for the first time, young people who want instant gratification also need books, older people need books to learn about new times,” the author says.

She adds that we need books that introduce new worlds and explain our own. Even in sci-fi realms, taking away books is to take away one’s freedom because books are freedom, Stojanoska said.

Audrey Azoulay, Director general of the UNESCO, says that books are among the most incredible items to ever exist, crucial tools of education and sources of knowledge.

“Books teach us how to read, they inform us, entertain us, and make us capable of understanding the world. Books are an excellent way to discover worlds we ordinarily wouldn’t, and more importantly, they are a way to understand those worlds. Books are a means of communication between places and times, giving us an intimate view into friendships and inspiring mutual respect and understanding between individuals and cultures. Every language brings its own perspective on things, and its own way to think and feel,” Azoulay says.

Rahmetula Kuqi, Director of St. Clement of Ohrid National & University Library, said that nothing can replace reading books, and that World Book and Copyright Day is marked to acknowledge the power books hold in improving our lives.

“We always turn back to books when we search for the truth. Neither television nor any other means of informing can replace reading books. They are a priceless platform for freedom of expression and uninterrupted information flow, a crucial part of any modern society,” Kuqi said in his address. dk/sk/