1. World Book Day is an internationally recognised event that celebrates books and a love of reading, and emphasizes the importance of reading for life-long learning, cognitive development and psychological well-being.

2. The theme for 2013 is "In books I find...".

3. The theme reflects the value of books, what can be achieved with books, and the great advantages of wide reading.

4. The WCED will be celebrating with partners such as the Publishers„ Association of South Africa, the South African Booksellers. Association, the Department of Arts and Culture, the Western Cape Provincial Library Services and the Centre for the Book (a specialist unit of the National Library of South Africa).

5. The partnership has designed and printed a colourful poster depicting the spirit of World Book Day. Posters will be made available to all schools across the country. In the Western Cape, they can be obtained from the EDULIS library and district resource centres by contacting one of the following persons:

Susan Hanekom EDULIS Library, Bellville tel. 021 957 9617
Cheryl Joseph Kuils River Resource Centre,
Metro East Education District
tel. 021 900 5111
Ntombi Mngxuma Brian O.Connell Resource Centre,
Metro South Education District
tel. 021 370 2084
Jennifer Caroto Metro North Resource Centre,
Metro North Education District
tel. 021 938 3197
Sara Clegg Makhosandile Ndzuzo Resource Centre,
Overberg Education District
tel. 028 214 7387

6. Schools in education districts that do not have resource centres should contact the following persons in order to obtain posters:

Metro Central Education District:
Sharon Koff
Bridgette Spielman
tel. 021 514 6756
tel. 021 514 6702

West Coast Education District:
Faith Lawrence tel: 021 860 1562

Cape Winelands Education District:
Janine Ontong tel. 023 348 4657

Eden and Central Karoo Education District:
Alta Raath tel. 082 925 0634

7. The WCED encourages all schools to celebrate World Book Day by arranging reading-associated activities such as the following:
7.1 Holding story-reading sessions at your school
7.2 Arranging a book-donations drive for your school library
7.3 Organising a World Book Day event and inviting reputable speakers to talk about the importance of reading
7.4 Starting a Book Club and launching it on World Book Day
7.5 Entering the World Book Day Competition on the South African Booksellers Association website at www.sabooksellers.com and completing the theme "In books I find...". The prize is a R1000 gift voucher, and the winner will be announced on World Book Day.


SIGNED: M M HARKER
DEPUTY DIRECTOR-GENERAL: EDUCATION PLANNING
DATE: 2013:04:08