Under the Artistic Season 2017, the Government of the Azores, through the Regional Secretariat for Education and Culture, promotes several initiatives intended to mark the World Book and Copyright Day with a theme weekend between April 21 and 24.
 
The Regional Directorate for Culture, through its External Services, will offer a book in Portuguese to all users of Luís da Silva Ribeiro Library in Angra do Heroísmo and João José da Graça Public Library in Horta who use the loan service on April 21 and 22, respectively.
 
As part of the initiative "A visitor, a book," those who visit the Network of Visiting Museums and Collections of the Azores and Arquipélago - Contemporary Arts Centre on April 23 will receive a book in Portuguese.
 
On April 21, the Luís da Silva Ribeiro Public Library and Regional Archive hosts a Special Radio Session broadcast by TSF - Rádio Notícias station at 9:30. It will feature the presentation of the radio documentary "Take me to the Road of Paradise" by Fernando Alves and Herlander Rui, based on the characters and the stories of the book entitled "A Vida no Campo" (Life in the Countryside) by Joel Neto. The event will be followed by an informal discussion about the role of radio in the contemporary society, the future of relations between urban and rural communities and the role media.
 
The Luís da Silva Ribeiro Public Library will also organise the activity entitled "Jug of Books" will be held on April 21 at 9 AM. It consists of a scenographic device to suggest readings. There will also be a "Mannequin Challenge” at 4:30 PM, an activity that includes the making of a video in which a group of people will be frozen like dummies. Those who are interested in participating should fill in a registration form that will be available at the Reading and Home Loan Room.
 
On the following day, the initiative "Book Hunt: journey through the library, meeting challenges, towards the discovery of a hidden treasure" takes place from 2 to 5 PM. It is especially directed to parents and children, but is open to the public in general."
 
Those who are interested may receive, through the mobile phone, via Facebook, the instructions of a page moderator created for this purpose in order to progress in the game, using the Library's wireless network system.
 
Also on April 22, there will be a film session at 9 PM with the screening of the film entitled "The Book Thief" by Brian Percival, for audiences aged 12 or over.
 
Also as part of the celebrations of the World Book and Copyright Day, the Ponta Delgada Public Library and Regional Archive organises the debate on "Readings by Women" on April 23 at 6 PM, an initiative that features the participation of writers Maria Leonor Sampaio e Silva, Paula de Sousa Lima and Madalena San-Bento. The debate will be moderated by Rute Gregório.
 
This informal conversation will address several topics, namely the existence of “women's style" in writing and its specific features as well as the nature of the motivation and themes of books by female authors. The defence of the existence of quotas as a means of ensuring the participation of women in civic activity will be another topic under discussion.
 
Participants in this initiative will receive a book.
 
In turn, the João José da Graça Public Library and Regional Archive in Horta will host a "Reading Marathon" on April 24 between 10 AM and 5 PM. It involves the participation of the Community of Readers - "Tea with Books," the Occupation Activity Centre of "Santa Casa da Misericórdia," UniSénior, Manuel de Arriaga Secondary School, Horta Basic Education and Horta Vocational Training School.
 
Each participant will also bring their favourite book and read an excerpt.
 
The World Book and Copyright Day is annually celebrated on April 23 and was established by the 28th UNESCO General Conference in 1995 with the aim of promoting reading, publishing of books and copyright protection.
 
The date of April 23 was chosen for being the day of birth and death of several writers, including Vladimir Nabokov, Miguel de Cervantes, William Shakespeare or Garcilaso de la Vega.
 
The Regional Directorate for Culture informs that this event, which is held under the Regional Reading Plan, as well as other activities developed by its external services are available for consultation at the Cultural Agenda on the CulturAçores Portal at the email address www.culturacores.azores.gov.pt