1. The UNESCO-initiated World Book and Copyright Day celebration is held annually on 23 April, William Shakespeare’s date of birth, which falls on a Thursday this year.
2. The theme for 2015, Come Read With Me, reflects the importance of reading skills in life-long learning, intellectual development and psychological well-being. Schools are therefore encouraged to acknowledge the value of reading by participating enthusiastically in reading-based activities on World Book Day.
3. Copyright gives authors and creators exclusive rights over their original works for a certain period and is enforced by the South African Copyright Act, 1978 (Act 98 of 1978).
4. For more information about copyright and how schools are affected by the South African Copyright Law see the attached file "Copyright guidelines for South African schools" compiled by the University of the Witwatersrand or visit http://libguides.wits.ac.za/Wits_Copyright_Guidelines/Guidelines_for_South_African_Schools
5. The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) will be celebrating World Book and Copyright Day with the launch of a National Book Flood Campaign at the Maskam Mall in Vredendal. This is a Department of Basic Education initiative to foster a culture of reading and ultimately improve learners’ literacy skills, increase access to reading material and improve performance in reading/literacy and subsequent comprehension of all the subjects.
6. The WCED together with partners such as the Publishers’ Association of South Africa, the Library and Information 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) has designed and printed a colourful poster depicting the spirit of World Book Day. See the attached electronic (pdf) version of the poster.
7. Printed posters may be collected from:

Susan Hanekom EDULIS Library, Bellville tel. 021 957 9617
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
Timothy Cloete Makhosandile Ndzuzo Resource Centre, Overberg Education District tel. 028 214 7386
Sharon Koff /
Brigette Spielman		 Metro Central Education District tel. 021 514 6702/56
Tarryn Rasool Metro East Education District tel. 021 900 7171
Faith Lawrence West Coast Education District tel. 021 862 7776
Janine Ontong Cape Winelands Education District tel. 023 348 4657
Alta Raath Eden & Central Karoo Education District tel. 044 803 8329
8. For further enquiries, please contact Theresa de Young on tel. 021 957 9638 or theresa.deyoung@westerncape.gov.za


SIGNED: M M HARKER
DEPUTY DIRECTOR-GENERAL: EDUCATION PLANNING
DATE: 2015:04:16

Copyright guidelines for SA schools  (size: 68 KB)
World Book dat Poster  (size: 103 KB)