BBW highlights book access as cause of reading interest disparity

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Big Bad Wolf (BBW) assesses that the disparity in reading interest in the country is not solely caused by low public interest, but also due to limited access to books, especially in remote areas.

“The low literacy problem is not because people are lazy to read, but because books are hard to obtain. If we look at cities outside Java, there might only be one bookstore in one mall in one city,” said BBW Indonesia Director Marthius Wandi Budianto at the Gathering & Book Preview BBW Jakarta 2026 event on Thursday.

Indonesia’s literacy rate is said to have only reached 0.001 per cent, or just one in 100,000 people who truly enjoy reading.

“We want to provide a very different reading experience to children so they do not become too dependent on gadgets. Reading books is far more enjoyable and the experience is different compared to just looking at a screen,” Wandi stated.

He added that the scarcity of quality children’s books is felt even in renowned schools. Many parents struggle to find suitable English-language books for their children in conventional bookstores.

BBW has partnered with Lion Parcel as the official logistics partner operating 24 hours during the event, allowing visitors from out of town to purchase without having to carry them themselves.

Buyer enthusiasm even exceeds national borders. At the previous Surabaya event, shipments were recorded as far as Malaysia from buyers who entrusted through relatives in Indonesia.

In its 10th year of presence in Indonesia, BBW reaffirms its commitment to continuously enhance the visitor experience while expanding public access to quality books at affordable prices.