Instituto del Libro (cover artist: Frémez (José Gómez Fresquet)), "RC: Revolución y Cultura," número 14, circa 1970s. Teatro y Revolución." Magazine, offset print on newsprint

Instituto del Libro / Instituto Cubano del Libro

Founded on April 27, 1967 under Law 1203, the Instituto del Libro (later renamed Instituto Cubano del Libro, or ICL) was established to create a comprehensive system for book production in revolutionary Cuba, overseeing everything from title selection to publication and distribution. The organization consolidated the various publishing houses that had emerged after 1959, including the Imprenta Nacional de Cuba (founded 1959) and Editorial Nacional de Cuba (established 1962).

The Instituto del Libro's mission was to make books accessible to all Cubans and to promote Cuban authors nationally and internationally. It published works across all literary, artistic, and scientific-technical genres, including both Cuban and international classics and contemporary literature. In 1976, the ICL was integrated into the newly-created Ministry of Culture. The organization continues to play a vital role in Cuban cultural life, organizing the annual Havana International Book Fair and awarding the National Prizes for Literature and Social Sciences.