INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CHILDREN'S LIBRARIES, 2010   Building a Book Culture 4-6 February 2010, New Delhi   Click here for more information, Seminar Topics and registration form.

The Association of Writers and Illustrators for Children (AWIC), a voluntary organization, works towards the promotion and development of literature for children in India. It represents writers, illustrators, librarians, editors and publishers interested in children’s literature. Founded by the late Mr. K. Shankar Pillai in 1981, AWIC has moved from strength to strength making its presence felt in the international field for quality children’s literature. Since 1990, it has represented the Indian Section of IBBY.

IBBY India is very active in book publishing. In addition to the publication of stories, poems, plays and biographies by its members, AWIC has contributed to literacy projects, school library projects and translations. It runs an exclusive children’s bookshop and conducts regular workshops for members helping them hone their skills.

In 1991, the AWIC Children’s Library Project received the IBBY-Asahi Reading Promotion Award

IBBY India hosted the 26th IBBY Congress in New Delhi, September 1998 under the theme: Peace Through Children’s Books.

AWIC/Indian BBY was the sponsor of the 2005 International Children’s Book Day. The message and the poster with the theme Books Are My Magic Eyes was be presented at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, April 2005. (more)

Between 29th and 30th April 2005 the Section organized a National Convention on Children’s Libraries in New Delhi. The aims of the Convention were to co-ordinate and establish links with NGOs, schools, Government agencies, public libraries and all those working with books and children, so that definite direction is given to the children’s library movement.

In 2005 the section organized the Asian Conference on Storytelling to Promote the Reading Habit in Children from 29th to 31st September 2005 in New Delhi.

In 2007 they are organizing the second in the series.

2007 Conference

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON STORYTELLING TO PROMOTE CUTURAL INTEGRATION AND READING HABIT IN CHILDREN

When: 17, 18, 19 SEPTEMBER 2007

Venue: India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi 110002, India

The Association of Writers and Illustrators for Children (AWIC), the Indian section of the International Board on Books for Young People (Indian BBY) is organsing a 3 day International Conference, from the 17, 18 and 19 of September 2007, at New Delhi, to discuss and demonstrate the art of storytelling in its different forms.

For more information

Read more about the 2005 Conference.

IBBY-Yamada Project 2007

The Creating Children's Libraries project has established libraries in two community centres: in Arunachal Pradesh (N.E. India) and in New Delhi.

Training sessions were organized with parents, social workers and teachers to teach them how to promote the reading habit. Libraries have been established in the centres and staff trained to run the libraries as well as how to organize additional book-related activities after the initial setting up period.

Read about Indian BBY Tsunami relief project on the Coromandel Coast.

Read about a project initiated by Manorama Jafa, Secretary General of IBBY India, taking books to children in Afghanistan.