Ilsur Metshin: The motto "I love to read" should unify Kazan

(Kazan, KZN.RU, June 7, by Zilya Gafiyatullina) Kazan Mayor Ilsur Metshin inaugurated "Book Fest 2014" in the Lyadskoi Garden. Starting at noon, at nine themed park lanes, the participants recited poetry, sang songs, played music, held master classes for children, screened silent films and presented children's shows, read works by Pushkin and contemporary writers; people also exchanged books there. According to the head of the city, the capital of Tatarstan has given birth to a good tradition in the Year of Culture that must be maintained.

The interactive festival "Book Fest 2014" opens the summer street festival in the Year of Culture.

"Book Fest 2014" is dedicated to the Day of the Native Language and the 215th anniversary of Alexander Pushkin's birth. It will be held at three venues: outdoors – in the Museum of Fine Arts park and Lyadskoi Garden – and in the Vasily Aksenov Museum.

Opening the festival, Ilsur Metshin noted that Kazan has given birth to a new positive tradition. "I am delighted to welcome all book lovers. While we never stopped reading books, it's time for us, adults, in this age of rapid development of computer technologies and the Internet, to inculcate love for books into our children. The festival is held all over Kazan, and the motto "I love to read" should be unifying for the whole city. But for the books, Tukai would have never learned about Pushkin. Many of our favorite childhood characters come from books. Dear friends, may books teach you all that is good, and may you make new friends. Happy Holidays!" concluded the mayor.