On reading habits

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