Poor reading habits?

Poor reading habits?

From Kompas

At the end of every year Kompas runs advertisements for cheap books for the benefit of book worms. One such advertisement appeared on Dec. 30, 1996 on page 14.

I would like to question whether research was conducted before the advertisement appeared in the paper. To my knowledge, book prices in Indonesia cannot be called reasonable when compared with the per capita income ratio.

Starting with the paper rights for printing, inclusive translating/writing fees, and ending at the counter, heavy duties follow every stage.

Would not it be better if Kompas started researching the situation? The results of the research could move the government to lower component prices of the book industry.

At the same time, Kompas published a comment made by the Minister of Education Prof. Wardiman Djojonegoro which said the majority of people despise books. I wonder why Prof. Wardiman made such a statement.

It is not fair to generalize matters by saying that most Indonesians do not like books. My servant, who is poorly educated and speaks poor Indonesian, always tries hard to read the paper. Even though she has finished elementary school, her interest in reading is above average.

I am a mother and I would like my child to develop an interest in reading books. However, children's books are too expensive. I often have to make a choice between milk, meat and books. Mostly, I have to give up the books.

Taking the kids to a library would not be of much help either, because libraries in provincial capitals are not adequately stocked.

REFINA HARAHAP

North Sulawesi