The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has granted Reykjavik, Iceland official “City of Literature” status. Reykjavik is the fifth city to receive the honor, following Edinburgh, Scotland; Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Iowa City, Iowa, U.S.; and Dublin, Ireland. It is the 29th member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network overall. UNESCO Cities of Literature are based on criteria such as the quality, quantity, and diversity of publication houses and literature programs; and active involvement of literature in an urban environment through preserved cultural centers and the hosting of literary events.

The commemoration will be officially announced at the Reykjavik International Literature Festival running September 7-11. Reykjavik also has the distinction of being the first Nordic locale to be guest of honor at the Frankfurt Book Fair in October. While we at OBS will miss them this week in Iceland, we will be sure to congratulate them in person in Germany this October.

Links:
http://portal.unesco.org/culture/en/ev.php-URL_ID=41687&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html– Official UNESCO news release
http://news.opodo.co.uk/NewsDetails/2011-09-06/Reykjavik_named_Unesco_City_of_Literature – Travel news, Opodo.co.uk 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_of_Literature – City of Literature, Wikipedia