Nearly 40% of Poles read at least one book in 2019: report

In 2019, 39 percent of Poles declared reading at least one book, according to a report published by the National Library of Poland on April 23. This is a similar result as compared to previous years, which allows the authors of the study to diagnose “permanent stopping of a decline in readership”. This year’s readership result is slightly higher than in previous years – in 2018, 37 percent of Poles declared reading one book, 38 percent in 2017, and 37 percent in 2016 and 2015.

Meanwhile, April 23 is the World Book and Copyright Day established by UNESCO. “The power of books should be used to fight isolation,” emphasized UNESCO in a message to mark this year’s event. The book festival originates from Catalonia, Spain. It was organized for the first time in 1926. This is an important date in the history of world literature: the date of the death of Cervantes, the birth and death of Shakespeare, as well as the death of Inca Garcilaso de la Vega. In 1995, UNESCO declared April 23 as World Book and Copyright Day. In Poland, the celebration of this day was organized for the first time in 2008.

(PAP1, PAP2)