Book festival starts on Friday in Mauritius

‘Read and build your future’ is the theme chosen by the National Library and the organising committee of the World Book Day in Mauritius, which is celebrating the ninth consecutive year of the book festival.

The celebration of World Book Day in Mauritius aims to educate the public about the importance of reading. Every individual development is through reading.

“It is important to develop a culture for reading and know how to cultivate this passion. Each child must have his own book because it is a way to enrich oneself.

For the new edition, the World Book Day committee has decided to organise a major event over three days,” said Yves Chan Kam Lon, chairman of the organising committee of World Book Day, Mauritius.

In line with the symbolic date of World Book Day celebrated on April 23, several activities are being organised to mark this day.

The National Library organised a round table last week while a book festival was recently held in Port Mathurin, Rodrigues.

On May 6, this day will be dedicated to the pre-primary students starting from 10 am to 5 pm at the Port Louis Waterfront.Following this, the book festival will be held on May 7 and 8 from 10 am to 10 pm at the Port Louis Waterfront.
Since 2004, the National Computer Board (NCB), in collaboration with the National Library, provides the public with two cyber caravans equipped with 10 computers giving them free Internet access.
The prize giving ceremony for the Dictation competition will be held on May 7.

The participants of the 2011 edition of World Book Day include BookWorld Co Ltd, BM Bookcentre, CELPAC, Eckcrankar, Eastern Bookshop, Conservatoire de Musique Francois Mitterand Trust Fund and Editions de L’Océan Indien.

Also, Graphic Press, Karuna Stars, La Bibliothèque Nationale, La Souris Verte Diffusion, Mahatma Gandhi Institute, Mauritius Police Band, National Computer Board, New Learning Ltd (WorldBook), Ramanjooloo & Co Ltd will be present.