The Literacy Revolution (2015 Event)

According to UNESCO, every region of the world during the last 20 years has seen gains in literacy rates, but the situation remains highly uneven. To what extent can this improvement be attributed to the urbanisation of populations across the world and the role of libraries in the culture of cities? The panel includes: Sergio Fajardo, one of the best-known political figures in Colombia who as mayor of Medellin oversaw a highly successful campaign to improve literacy in the city by placing libraries in downtrodden and overlooked barrios; and Amina Shah, CEO of the Scottish Library and Information Council who is a key figure in the future of Scotland’s libraries. The event, recorded live at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, is chaired by Jenny Niven, Head of Literature, Languages and Publishing at Creative Scotland. Presented in partnership with Theatrum Mundi.

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Celebrating the 2024 Book Festival Celebrating the 2024 Book Festival
Monday 26 August

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