On reading habits

I read with interest Ms. Refina Harahap's letter (Jan. 24, 1997) about poor reading habits. In 1995 a small foundation called Yayasan Kinatouan opened six village libraries and last year we opened another six in Minahasa, North Sulawesi. Hopefully, by 2000, thirty villages in Minahasa will have their own libraries in the effort to combat intellectual poverty.

We bought about 900 titles and old magazines to be distributed in the first year. But in the second year we had difficulty selecting new titles because not many new titles were published.

We have realized that Indonesians like reading very much. Children particularly love reading. Before school hours they come to the library and read. They come back during the school break, and after the school has closed they do not go home immediately but read again in the library.

We are wondering how we can add to our collection of books to match the reading habits of the children. Maybe the Ministry of Education and Culture would like to help us expand our library services in other districts. People like reading if they are given access to books in the library.

EVITA KANDOU

Jakarta