Exchanges with authors, launching of books, and workshops, among others, complete the list of actions that stimulate reading, pay tribute to relevant figures, and make new titles available to all-age people since last week.

According to the communication department at the Cuban Book Institute, the annual event that recalls the creation of the National Printing House hosted a selection of books at the Fayad Jamís Bookstore, located in Havana’s Historic Center.

Directed by writer Alejo Carpentier, the printing house was founded on March 31, 1959. Its first publication was the novel “El Ingenioso Hidalgo Don Quijote de la Mancha” (Don Quixote) by Miguel de Cervantes y Saavedra, a masterpiece of Spanish literature.

The institution became the National Publishing House in 1962, and the Cuban Book Institute emerged in 1967.

Cuban Book Day was chosen in 1981 as a tribute to that first step in confirming the publishing system in Cuba and in recognition of the writers, editors, designers, promoters, librarians, communicators, educators, and all those who make up the world of literature.

jrr/iff/ro/lbl