Kuala Lumpur named World Book Capital for 2020

Monday, 24 September 2018 Books+Publishing

Kuala Lumpur (KL) has been named as the UNESCO World Book Capital (WBC) for 2020.

The city was selected due to its ‘strong focus on inclusive education’ and emphasis on ‘accessible reading for all parts of the city’s population’.

With the slogan ‘KL Baca—caring through reading’, the city’s program will focus on four themes: reading in all its forms, development of book industry infrastructure, inclusiveness and digital accessibility, and empowerment of children through reading.

Kuala Lumpur aims to ‘foster a culture of reading and inclusiveness’ with its WBC program, which includes a reading campaign for train commuters, improved digital services and accessibility for people with disabilities at the National Library of Malaysia, and new digital services for 12 libraries in poor housing areas of the city. KL’s WBC plans also tie in to the city’s River of Life eco-project, which aims to clean up the city’s rivers, by establishing open-air bookshops and libraries to populate the restored waterways.

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Category: International news