Yazd named Iran's 2019 Book Capital

The central Iranian city of Yazd, famous for its deserts, historical monuments and qanats, was selected on Saturday as Iran's Book Capital for the year from March 20, 2019.

 Ten other cities including Firouzabad, Bojnourd, Larestan and Tabas were also nominated for the title, the organizers announced during a special ceremony at Tehran's National Library and Archives of Iran.

The festival is organized each year to promote reading among the rural population and nomads, ISNA wrote.

Iran's Book Capital is selected annually by a team of literati and scholars assigned by Culture Ministry.

The southwestern city of Ahvaz for 2015, the northeastern city of Neyshabour for 2016, the southern city of Bushehr for 2017 and central city of Kashan were Iran's first, second, third and fourth book capitals respectively.