ULAN BATOR, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia held various activities to celebrate the annual World Book Day which falls on Tuesday.

"The World Book Day have been widely celebrated across the country in recent years. On this day, our library is organizing many activities in order to encourage people, especially children and youth to read books, raise public awareness of the importance of reading and pay tribute to authors," Dashbalbar Indra, director of central library of the Mongolian capital Ulan Bator, told Xinhua.

"Particularly, we are organizing activities such as antiquarian book fair, new book fair, meeting of authors and readers, and consultation event how to easily revive old books," said Indra.

"More importantly, events such as World Book Day are great opportunities for us to raise public awareness of the importance of reading," Indra added.

Senior officials of Ulan Bator, including mayor of the capital city Sainbuyan Amarsaikhan attended the opening ceremony of activities for the World Book Day at the central library of the city on Tuesday.

"Reading is a great exercise that keeps our mind active and healthy. So, the Ulan Bator municipal government and Mongolian government have been paying special attention to create more reading-friendly environments," Amarsaikhan said.

Some general schools in the country have been striving to create a micro library at every classroom by receiving books from parents and donors.

"Currently, there are more than 50 various types of books at a little library of our classroom," Tungalag Davaajargal, a seventh grader in Ulan Bator said.

"My teacher has always told us that you all have to read every day. Reading books will expand our mind and improve our vocabulary and communications skills," he said.

First celebrated in 1995, World Book Day, also known as International Day of the Book, is an annual event organized by the UNESCO to promote reading, publishing and copyright.