Antwerp: Books Across the Borders on UNESCO World Book and Copyright Day, 23 April 2015

ILAB Dealers Don’t Let National Boundaries Stand in the Way of Supporting Literacy

Eric Tonen and Peter Everaers - two antiquarian booksellers, one trading in Belgium and the other in The Netherlands - decided an international boundary lying between them wasn’t going to stop them participating in ILAB’s celebration of UNESCO World Book and Copyright Day. Meet them at Bibliotheek Permeke in Antwerp on 23 April 2015!

Erik Tonen usually enters “his more than elegant antiquarian bookshop” on the Kloosterstraat in Antwerp greeting the shelves with a “Good morning, books” (Marc Didden in De Standaard). Around 30 kilometres northwards, in Ter Hole you will meet Peter Everaers of Secundus Antiquarian Booksellers, dealing with fine books, maps, manuscripts and ephemera on the history, literature and art of Zeeland and Flanders. On UNESCO World Book and Copyright Day the two colleagues from Belgium and The Netherlands will meet each other near the Dutch/Belgian border to hold an ILAB Pop Up Book Fair at the Bibliotheek Permeke in the famous harbour city of Antwerp – which is also know as the city of diamonds.

The Bibliotheek Permeke is an inspirational place, and not just because it is the main library of the network of public libraries in Antwerp. Built 10 years ago right in the middle of a deprived part of the city it was a farsighted first step in the city’s endeavour to clear the slums and improve the lives of its people. Now, a decade later, every day thousands of readers visit the library to borrow books, use the internet, to read and get information and drink coffee in the glass pub.

On April 23 Erik Tonen and Peter Everaers will offer the opportunity for visitors to Bibliotheek Permeke - many of whom would otherwise never see antiquarian books - the chance to view and handle rare and beautiful books from their stock. Their stand will feature the ILAB / UNESCO Empty Bookcase posters and offer visitors the chance to change the lives of children in the South Sudan by buying a “symbolic spine”and filling the symbolic “empty bookcase” for literacy: A donation of 3 US $ will send one book to a child in South Sudan, 15 US $ purchase a set of 12 school books for a classroom, and 500 US $ provide 45 school book collections for a rural community in Africa.

Bibliotheek Permeke is a symbol that books change lives and that the power of reading is vital and essential. The ILAB Pop Up Book Fair held by two antiquarian booksellers at this special place near the Dutch-Belgian border makes sure that the benefits of books and reading are extended to the children of South Sudan.

Visit Bibliotheek Permeke on UNESCO World Book and Copyright Day and fill the bookshelves to fight illiteracy!

THURSDAY 23 APRIL – all day

Bibliotheek Permeke

De Coninckplein 25-26
2060 Antwerpen
BELGIUM

>>> Bibliotheek Permeke

LET’S PUT THE R A R E IN THE UNESCO WORLD BOOK & COPYRIGHT DAY!

>>> Learn more

AUSTRALIA - JAPAN - SOUTH AFRICA - RUSSIA - HUNGARY - AUSTRIA - GERMANY - ITALY - SPAIN - NETHERLANDS - UNITED KINGDOM - USA ...

>>> ... and anywhere else in the world where you decide to be a part of it!

SCHOOLS NEED BOOKS - Help UNESCO to realize the vision of a literate world for all!

>>> Support literacy and fill the bookcases on UNESCO World Book and Copyright Day, 23 April 2015

(Pictures: Peter Everaers, Wikipedia / Foto Ad Meskens, ILAB, UNESCO. Photo above: left Erik Tonen; right Peter Everaers)