International events: Conference in Japan brings into focus problems of reading in the Digital Age

The Symposium “Enhancing the Culture of Reading and Books in the Digital Age - Copyright as a means to foster creativity and access” is focused on the problems of reading in the age of Internet posing the question if the digital age will put an end to the culture of reading and books that has been nurtured over centuries.

The conference is being held on December 1-2 2010 at the National Diet Library of Japan, commemorating the National Year of Reading in Japan. It seeks to show ways in which libraries, writers and publishers can foster a culture of reading in the age of digital information and communication technologies.

The conference turns the spotlight on the following subject matters:

- International legal frameworks for the protection of copyright and related rights

- The importance of copyright to society

- Providing access to copyright works

- Literacy, publishing, libraries and reading

- Digitization

- Access for users with special needs

- Co-operation to enhance accessibility to copyright works.