President Leonel Fernández inaugurated on 23 April the I International Book Fair of Santo Domingo, the globalized version of the 25 year old National Book Fair. In his improvised opening words, he spoke of government efforts to refurbish the National Library and municipal libraries all around the country. The book fair will last through 3 May and runs on a 9:30 am to 10:30 pm schedule. Admission is free. Most events take place on the grounds of the National Conservatory of Music at Av. Cesar Nicolás Penson corner Alma Mater. The book fair is an ongoing succession of shows, book presentations and cultural events. Following are some of the key events of the weekend schedule of the fair, described as the principal cultural event of the year is as follows: Friday 10:30 am: Inauguration of the Spanish Pavilion 10:30 am: Inauguration of the Children’s Pavilion 10:30 am: Inauguration of the Magazine Festival 11:00 am: Inauguration of the Women Writers Stand 4 pm: Presentation of the books edited by the Permanent Commission of the Fair at the Sala de Actividades Alberto Baeza Flores. 4:30 pm: Inauguration of the Exhibition: Dominican Classic Music at the principal hall of the National Music Conservatory. 6:30 pm: Presentation of "Don Quixote and Sancho Panza" by Teatro Guayumba at the show stage of the Fair. 7:30 pm: Presentation of books by Dr. Leonel Fernández at the Juan Francisco García auditorium. Saturday Day dedicated to Lupo Hernández Rueda 11 am: Children’s Ballet Performance at the Juan Francisco García Auditorium. 4:30 pm: Presentation of the book "La Sordida telearaña de la Mansedumbre," by Rafael García Romero at the Sala Manuel Simó. 6 pm: Presentation of the book "Con un mensajero tuyo" by Mayra Montero, a Cuban-Puerto Rican novelist, at the Auditorio Juan Francisco García. 7:30 pm: Presentation of the book: "Fragancias del recuerdo: Estampas de la Moca de Ayer," by José Abigail Cruz Infante and Rafael Martínez. Sunday Day dedicated to Rafael Valera Benítez 4 pm: Presentation of the books: "Diario de la muerte" by Dalia Nieves (Puerto Rico); "Palabras de la muerte" by Daniuska González (Cuba)’ "Poesías" de Rosa Luna García (Venezuela) and "Telar de rebeldía" by Angela Hernández (Dominican Republic) at the Sala Samuel Simó. 5 pm: Conference by Jorge G. Casteñeda (Mexico) on "El Che Guevara y el Subcomandante Marcos: mitos y verdades" at the Auditorio Juan Francisco García. 5 pm: "Antología del Caballo," by Manuel del Cabral, book presented at the Sala de Actividades Alberto Baeza Flores. 6 pm: Performance of danza, jazz and theater groups from the Universidad Nacional Pedro Henríquez Ureña at the show stage. 7:30 pm: Presentation of the book: "De mantenidas a proveedoras" by Helen Safa (United States) at the Sala de Actividades Alberto Baeza Flores. 8 pm: Talk with Chilean author Luis Sepúlveda at the Auditorio Juan Francisco García.
