

Edinburgh
Scotland, awarded October 2004
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Melbourne
Australia, awarded August 2008
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Iowa City
USA, awarded November 2008
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Dublin
Republic of Ireland, July 2010
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Reykjavik
Iceland, awarded August 2011
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UNESCO Cities of Literature work together to build strong global partnerships: encouraging literary exchanges, creating cross-cultural initiatives and developing local, national and international literary links. Each City will also be dedicated to pursuing excellence in literature on a local level, engaging citizens in a dynamic culture of words.
Melbourne, Iowa City, Dublin, Reykjavik and Norwich have now joined Edinburgh to form a new global network of Cities of Literature - we look forward to welcoming more Cities to our network.
Cities of Literature: Criteria
- Quality, quantity and diversity of publishing and editorial initiatives
- Quality and quantity of educational programmes
- Urban environment in which literature plays an integral part
- Experience hosting literary events and festivals, promoting foreign and domestic texts
- Libraries, bookstores and cultural centres
- Active effort to translate literary works from diverse languages
- Use of new media to promote and stengthen the literary market