The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) established 23 April World Book and Copyright Day in 1995．However, it got its start long before that in Spain.
Setting aside a day to celebrate books traces its beginnings to Spanish writer Vicente Clavel Andrés. In 1922 he proposed idea as a way to honour Miguel de Cervantes. It was four years later the first celebration took place on 7 October, Cervantes' birthday, but it was moved to 23 April, the date of his death, in 1930．
In 1995, the UNESCO (decide) to pay homage to authors and books worldwide as a way of encouraging everyone (access) books. Choosing 23 April seemed a logical (choose); besides being the date of Cervante's death, it also happens to be the date William Shakespeare and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega died. Additionally, several distinguished authors were born on 23 April, (make) it a symbolic date in the world literature.
(annual) since 2001, one city is chosen to be the UNESCO World Book Capital for a year. The selected city (task) with carrying out activities over its year-long designation to encourage "a culture of reading and diffusing its values in all ages and population groups in and out of the national borders".
The initiative was put forward by Spain in 2001, and Madrid was designated the first capital, (follow) by Alexandria and then New Delhi.
