DOCUMENT RESUME
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TITLE Effective Methods of Promoting Reading Habits in Asia and the Pacific: Report of the Training Course on Book Production in Asia and the Pacific (22nd, Tokyo, Japan, November 17-December 5, 1989). INSTITUTION Asian Cultural Centre for UNESCO, Tokyo (Japan). PUB DATE 90 NOTE 103p. PUB TYPE Collected Works Conference Proceedings (021) Reports General (140)
EDRS PRICE MF01/PC05 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Books; Elementary Education; *Foreign Countries; *Library Role; Mass Media Use; *Motivation Techniques; Program Descriptions; *Reading Habits; *Reading Improvement IDENTIFIERS *Asia Pacific Region; *Reading Motivation; UNESCO
ABSTRACT The results of a course held in response to requests from the member states of UNESCO, this report presents the abridged con;:ant of lectures, discussions, and observation visits concerning the methods and experiences of the 19 participants in promoting reading habits in 16 Asian and Pacific countries. The report notes that one of the key issues in book development is how to promote reading habits in a practical way. The first part of the report (Creating Good Books and Methods of Promoting Reading) presents six papers:(1) "Creating Picture Books" (Seizo Tashima);(2) "Reading Promotion Activities and "ibraries in Japan" (Hitoshi Kurihara); (3) "Development of Reading Promotion Movement in Japan" (Kenichi Ino); (4) "Roles of School Libraries and Their Actual State in Japan" (Yoshie Nagai);(5) "Utilization of Mass Media for Reading Promotion" (Yasuo Ueda); and (6) "Creation and Effective Presentation of Picture Plays (Kamishibai)" (Noriko Matsui). The second part presents the reports of group discussions on how to succeed in promoting reading habits. The third part (Status-Quo of Promotion of Reading Habits in Asian/Pacific Countries) provides reports of the countries participating: Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Laos, Ialaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Viet Nam. Appendixes present the program schedule; lists of participants, lecturers, and secretariat members; and general information. (RS)
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BEST COPY AVAILABLE Effective Methods of Promoting Reading Habits in Asia and the Pacific
Report of the 22nd Training Course on Book Production in Asia and the Pacific
Tokyo, 17 November 5 December 1989
Asian Cultural Centre for Unesco
3 Published by the Asian Cultural Centre for Unesco 6, Fukuromachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 162, Japan ftel.(03)269-4435, fax.(03)269-4510)
Printed by Taito Printing Co., Ltd. Tokyo
(-0 Asian Cultural Centre for Unesco 1990
Photographs of cover page: "Melihat-lihat Duku" by Wahab Mash (Indonesia) and "Young Ficipents" by U Mya Than Chit (Myanmar)
4 PREFACE
The Training Course on Promotion of Reading Habits- 22nd Training Course on Book Production in Asia and the Pacific- was held by the Asian Cultural Centre for Unesco, in cooperationwith Unesco, Japanese National Commission for Unesco, Japan Book PublishersAssociation, Japanese Board on Books for Young People and JapanLibrary Association, from 17 November to 5 December 1989.
How to promote reading habits is one of the key issuesin book development and it needs a lot of effort from variousprofessionals and volunteers in schools, communities and homes.ACCU organized the Training Course on Promotion of Reading Habitsand Book Development in 1988 in response to the requests of the memberstates of Unesco in the region, and it was evaluated highly by themember states.Considering the results of this course and the priority needfor such kind of training course, ACCU organized this year's course on promotion ofreading habits, inviting 19 participants from 16 countries.The participants included librarians, educators, editors, writers and literacyeducation specialists. The 1990 course focusedmore on practical action for promoting reading habits in respective countries.After a series of lectures, discussions and observation visits concerning themethods and experiences of promoting reading habits (suchas roles of libraries and utilizing other media), the participants worked on "How to Succeedin Promoting Reading Habits" and gave many practical and effectiveideas on this topic.The abridged content of some of the lectures andreports of such group work is published in this report. We should like to expressour deep appreciation and gratitude to all those persons who rendered special contributionsto make this course a most fruitful one, especially the lecturers andthose who kindly received the participants for the observation visitsand field trips. We hope this report will be utilized extensivelyin further promoting reading habits.
Asian Cultural Centre for Unesco CONTENTS
I: CREATING GOOD BOOKS AND METHODS OF PROMOTING READING HABITS
(1)"Creating Picture Books" Seizo Tashima 9
(2)"Reading Promotion Activities and Hitoshi Kurihara 13 Libraries in Japan"
(3)"Development of Reading Promotion Movement Kenichi In° 19 in Japan"
(4)"Roles of School Libraries and Their Yoshie Nagai 21 Actual State in Japan"
(5)"Utilization of Mass Media for Reading Yasuo Ueda 22 Promotion"
(6)"Creation and Effective Presentation Noriko Matsui 23 of Picture Plays (Kamishibai)"
II: HOW TO SUCCEED IN PROMOTING READING HABITS reports of group discussion
(1) Group-A Report 27
(2) Group-B. Report 28
(3) Group --C Report 29
III: STATUS-QUO OF PROMOTION OF READING HABITS IN ASIAN/PACIFIC COUNTRIES reports of the participants 35 Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, Pa:.:stan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Viet Nam
APPENDIX:
(1) Programme Schedule 96 (2) List of Participants 98 (3) List of Lecturers 100 (4) List of Secretariat Members 102 (5) General Information 103
6 PART I :CREATING GOOD BOOKS AND METHODS OF PROMOTING READING HABITS
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BEST COPY AVAILABLE CREATION OF PICTURE BOOKS sA
Seizo Tashima Author Illustrator
When Istarted to make picture books in and children. I have a firm conviction now the 1960s, most of the picture books that to absorb the hearts deep inside the published in Japan were those which flattered people of your country into your creation children.I mean those picture books and to make such characteristic work, is to imposing such an accomplished notion which nourish one's own character and personality, is determined by adults that "Children like and this, at the same time, can communicate such kinds of books".It was a time when a to people in other countries.Especially in creator did not depend on the 'creative the case of pictures, an artist expresses a impulse' which gushes ont from his or her motif on canvas or paper.In doing so, he heart in the work, but on such a notion that must visualize this motif well inside his own this is what children would like, or this is mind and let it stay inside for a while, what we must teach to our children.Of before he actually draws it.Otherwise the course there still exists in the present day outcome of his effort can hardly move other such kinds of publishing activity for children. people's minds. However, when we look at the picture books which have been read by children for more Now the problem is the quality of the than 30 years, we can see that it is because artist's inner world that the motif must go of the creative impulse which comes out from through.Unless it has a certain quality, the creator's mind and heart into the only a trifling picture can be made.What pictures that they have been well received influences the work is how the artist has by children for so many years. Ithink it is lived, through g-lief, joy, being hurt, hurting not my personal opinion but rather an other people, sufferings and his/her 'objective fact'. struggles.It often happens that the artist's capacity is only recognized in terns of In early years of my career, I made technique. Naturally, technique is necessary illustrations on the themes of traditional in creating something, but the most performances, festivals and customs of important point is what exists 'inside' the ordinary people.Through these works,I artist's mind, in between the flesh, in achieved a conviction that what is characteristically Japanese can also be communicated to people who have different cultures and customs.In other words, the characteristics and personalities which influence the essential part of the human mind are communicable to people in any country. unfortunately in the case of Japan, there is a tendency to admire western culture and there are still some people who believe in the superiority of western culture to eastern culture.But then, if you just imitate western culture and you do not learn from your own, itis not possible to impress even your own people. Though there are always people who may deceive us with such imitation, in reality the work cannot reach anyone's heart.That applies to both adults Fukimanbuku
9 8 corpuscles in the blood and in the veins of man's head, and he woke up.When he the artist, in creating a 'real' picture. opened his eyes, everybody was so surprised at his sudden awakening because they were Some may feel thatI am exaggerating a jumping and moving around all over the place little, butI am not.It applies not only to and did not know how to return to their art in general but also to picture books for original places instantly.It is just like a children.As I spoke earlier, it was a scene in a classroom when the teacher tells misfortune for children's books that this kind small school-children to do self-study, and of discussion hardly took place in relation to leaves the room.But once the teacher goes children's books for a long tirpie and only out, children move about as they like, books trying to please children prevailed on jumping and playing, and when the teacher the scene. returned to the room much earlier than they expected, they cannot help but go into a I moved to a village about 40 kms away panic. Ithink my vegetable story is similar from downtown Tokyo and started to grow to such a situation. vegetables, and keep hens and goats on my farm.Through such a life,I made one I make story and picture books according picture book titled, "Hatakeno Tomodachi to what Ifeel, and with no particular (Friends of the Field)" in which many of the consideration for children in mind.That is vegetables I grew appear.In picture books, to say thatI am creating it through a part easy personification of the objects such as of myself which continues to live as a vegetables is likely to be done by giving 'child'.Through that part of myself,Ican them eyes, mouth, hands or legs.However really relate to children.I think itis if you are really familiar with these important to focus on the 'child' in yourself vegetables, itis not necessary to give them in making picture books, rather than to focus eyes or mouth; you can make them move on the children around you. with their own characteristics. In -'act you can never completely The story of this book is as follows: succeed,Ifeel, in creating a book to please Once an old man who owned a farm was children or to provide them with what they taking a nap so everybody got excited to want.Assuming that you understand children have fun with each other.The cucumber itself creates a lot of problems. Some started to make sound, scratching his body people say that a children's book author as iplaying a cello, and egg plants were should have 'child's mind', or he should bumping each other to play rhythmic music. recall his own childhood in writing for The corn seemed to be playing a violin and children. But I don't think that is correct. the pumpkin flower became a horn, root If he h.'s to go back to his childhood and vegetables started to pull themselves up from youth to write or to illustrate, he is not the fields and run away and so on.So the really qualified to make a book for children. farm was turned into a kind of chaos. Ithink you should have a child's character, the urges or impulses of a child.You should When a tomato failed to catch a ball from be able to be excited and become hot as a green pepper and the ball hit the old much as children do.You should be able to
Hata keno Tomodachi
10 9 cry as much as children do.Only such year.So ifI had continued producing the adults can grasp children's minds and hearts same type of picture books maybe Icould and influence them. have become a rich man.But Icould see that ifI took it easy and continued in the Some people can make picture books with same style, my mind as an artist would start reference to what sells well, what mothers to stagnate and be spoiled.One must who buy children's books would like or what always be excited, with a heart going publishers and booksellers would be happy "pitapat" to create something.It must be with.But such an attitude in book-making especially so for those who are involved in cannot create a book that can capture children's books, because children are always children's minds for decades of years.One full of curiosity and new sensitivity. child enjoys a book and is happy with it. Therefore they can easily see through the When she grcws up and becomes a mother, essential weakness in works which were she buys the same book for her child, saying created through cheap techniques and "This is what I was reading when I was a experiences.Of course they don't say that child", and reads it aloud to her child.Of "This artist has become stereotyped," and course the book must remain on the market such, but they can feel it unconsciously. So though.This child grows bigger and she the artist must always have fresh and new herself has a baby; she can read the same sensitivity. book to her baby saying, "My grandmother, my mother and myself read this book".Such In my case I changed my style of a picture book cannot be created with cheap illustration three times.Every time I tricks of mere technique.What can touch changed itIsuffered a lot and the readers people's hearts and minds is something were also very confused.So there were created out of the artistic inspiration which books which did not sell at all or those is gushing out from the bottom of the which some critics said were made only with artist's mind. the sensitivity of adults, which is different from what children would like regarding use I make various types of picture books. of colours, for example. Istill remember "Friends of the Fields" is rather a recent what one critic said about my illustrations. one made in the 1980s."Chikarataro (Taro, He said, "The artist can illustrate whatever the Powerful)" was my first picture book, he wants in his own studio but don't trample published in 1964.This book is still being the beautiful flower garden of children's sold in bookshopsafter 25 years. books with artistic ego."One of these books did not sell well 25 years ago, but it There are many differences between these continued to be published for 25 years and two books.Naturally, in 25 years one's now more than 500,000 copies have been inner world changes.But I change it published in total. Now, I think, nobody in intentionally.It is so easy to continue in Japan says it was made by the artist's egoism the same style as you go on.For example, and neglects children's minds and such. "Chikarataro" was highly recognized and it sold more than 300,000 copies in a single Some time after this book was published,
Chikarataro
10 11 I moved to the countryside around Tokyo. I and bugs live, little buds shoot up, insects farm, keep goats and hens and stay in eggs hatch and birds fly in the sky.We had constant touch with nature.I was deeply co-existed with such life for a long time and moved and surprised by the 'power' that it is, in fact, the only way for us to live. nature has.Some people may think it is However, present civilization is separating us rather silly to say this, but I was really from this living world.Children are born in astonished to see the sown seed start to bud a 'cement box' and people work in a and bloom and bear fruit.It is such a company built of 'cement'. Through such life simple and, in a way, ordinary thing but it we forget what we can really depend on and was a shocking experience for me to see must treasure and we have destroyed it. such life which I had never realized when I was living in the city.Deep down in the ButI don't try to include such messages frozen earth, there are millions of seeds just as 'anti-pollution' and 'anti-nuclear power waiting for the spring to come.And before plant construction' in my picture books the spring breeze comes, soft shoots sprout directly. Ithink there is a more important from the hardened earth.Such ordinary but thing than to convey such 'concrete impressive natural life was very fresh to me. messages'.That is, through picture books I So I made this impression into the picture try to nourish the hearts and minds of book titled, "Fukimanbuku (The Girl and the children to accept directly the joy, Flowers)". impression and sometimes sorrow inlife;for example the joy of a small bug which could When Ipublished this book, children and finally fly after several ecdyses, or the mothers who were accustomed to my previous beauty of a plant whose seed sprouts and style were so shocked to see such a blooms.I was trying to include such different kind of pictures.Some said that feelings in the picture book "Fukimanbuku". they were even disappointed.Some people said that it gave them a creepy feeling to Some people may say that such lofty see certain pictures in the book.Such artistic discussion is no use for illustrations 'creepiness' represents the existence of god for children.But Ithink that is wrong. I living in the sky and the inexplicable power strongly feel that children's books should be that exists between nature and people, created with such real impulse of an artist respect and fear of godly nature. It was because children's books are what children what I was feeling when I was illustrating encounter in the very early part of their it. lives and the first art they meet.
Ithink human beings can only live in this This is an abridged translation of the nature on earth where many tiny creatures transcription of Mr. Tashima's lecture.
Fukimanbuku
12 11 READING PROMOTION ACTIVITIES AND LIBRARIES IN JAPAN
Hitoshi Kurihara Secretary General Japan Library Association
There are three pointsI felt, listening to personnel was also mentioned. the reports of the participants from 16 countries on the promotion of reading habits 4.Support for publishing and effective in their respective countries.One is that distribution - support is needed for publishing accordi4. to the respective situations of activities and for editors, writers, etc. by traditional culture and the conditions of life society and government, and also an of people, focuses and approaches in appropriate distribution system should be promotion of reading habits differ in established so that the books produced can respective countries.The second is that, reach the readersoften a problem at depending on the kind of work and present. responsibility in which each participant is involved, viewpoints and approaches in 5. New media such as TV Influence of new developing reading habits differ.The third forms of communication media, such as TV, is that, in spite of several differences, most on reading habits was pointed out. of the problems that were presented are quite common to us all.The problems These five areas are also of major commonly shared are in the following five concern in Japan.To increase the literate fields: population and to promote reading habits of all the citizens is to protect and to build up 1.Government including national and local the rights to make full use of the real government.Importance of literacy ability of each human being.It is a education is not adequately recognized by fundamental basis for the development of the government.More positive measures, communities and nations and formation of concretely more financial resources, are democratic societies.That'swhy Ithink to nee(' ?.din this field. promote reading and literacy is a task for today as well as for future years. 2.Society in general - Inadequate understanding of the relationship between Reading Promotion Activities in Japan children's development and reading in various phases of social life, and particularly of the Now I would like to talk about the parents in family life, has been pointed out. movements to promote reading in Japan. In addition to lack of parents' SinceI am a librarian,Iwill speak of the understanding, school teachers insist that reading promotion activities in relation to reading other than textbooks is unnecessary, the libraries. and such an attitude is prevailing.In order to make people understand the significance Istarted to serve as a librarian in 1948 of reading for children and to promote soI have been observing and thinking about reading movements, cooperation with the how people read for 40 years.I would like people in the communities, including to mention the following seven points about volunteers, is essential. reading movements in Japan:
3.School libraries and public libraries - 1.The literacy rate in Japan is 99.5%, which There was a common understanding among all is very high.This is because, over 150 the participants that libraries should serve years, the primary education system has people in order to increase the literacy rate improved greatly and people have acquired and provide various reading materials and literacy and the habit of reading books.It information.Importance of developing the is an achievement of education. library facilities and the training of library
13 12 2.While the school system was improved, the characteristics of the reading however, there, has not been much popularization movement were shifted in that encouragement on the part of government or direction.We thought that the reading other institutions to promote reading habits which focuses on each individual mind and outside schools. Of course Japan Library heart is the kind of reading we needed, not Association and some librarians and school what state authority says.And it was teachers have made various efforts but they realized that the role of the library, are not sufficient. especially of the public library, was of major importance and many efforts have been 3.Let me explain about the Japan Library made. Association which was established in 1892. For example, since 1948, 'Book-Mobile' We started with only 30 librarians but now public libraries have been set up at there are 5500 individual members who are provincial levels all over Japan.In fact,I professional librarians, and 2500 book-related was the first staff member of this Book- organizations as members.We have 6 Mobile in Japan and was travelling all over divisions and 27-8 committees functioning. Osaka area with books. Among those related to reading habits are Around 1955, in order to distribute books the Committee on Book Selection for to such remote areas which even the Book- Standard Catalogue, Committee on Reading of Mobile could not reach, 'PTA Mothers Children and Young Adults, and Committee on Library' was launched.This is a system to Promotion of Library Services for distribute books through the parent- Teacher Handicapped People in Library Utilization. Association.In school, four children make one group and through the PTA, 4 books per 4.With regard to its activities, they can group are loaned and each child takes one he divided into 4 phases.The first phase is, book home to its mother.And if you since 1924, we have been editing the exchange the books among the four in the "Standard Book Catalogue" for public group every week, for example, every one libraries.The purpose is to introduce good can read at least four books in a month.So books to libraries regularly and at the same the books are taken home by children time to encourage publishers and writers. themselves.After a month, the books are The second phase, also since the 1920s is returned to school and then they can borrow a movement to provide small libraries in new books.This system started to spread to romms in village primary school throughout various schools and villages first with the the country.Also a mobile library was initiation of libraries in Nagano Prefecture in started with 100 titles borrowed from the Japan where most of the land is central library. mountainous.Through this movement, mothers took reading seriously. The third was the organizing of a nation- Another popular movement was '20-minute wide annual library week, which started in reading of mother and child'.This means 1923 with the cooperation of publishers, that in the 20 minutes before the child goes bookstores and department stores.The to sleep, he or she reads aloud a book purpose of the week is to publicize good borrowed from a library or a school to the books.It was renamed, after World War II, mother and she listens to what the child has as Reading Week which later c-msitituted the to say even though she is busy.This foundation of the Japan Couucil of Promotion of Reading. The fourth, however, was the time when various reading movements functioned to condition the thinking of people in Japan in the war period beginning around 1933.It was when Japan caused a lot of trouble for many people in the countries of Asia and the Pacific. The fifth dates from when, through Japan's defeat in the war, it was realized seriously that reading for peace and the foundation of democracy was important and Setagaya Jidosha Toshokan
14 13 movement started in Kagoshima Prefecture in 1111111111111111Lers the southern part of Japan and spread widely through libraries and mother volunteers. In this way in the20years after WWII, various reading movements with new ideas and characteristics appeared.The activities centred around the public libraries in the particular area.The librarians themselves started to realize the important responsibility of promoting reading among people in the area. Another example is 'Bunko'.The other visiting "Kinunomichi Bunko" by Training Course three examples mentioned so far, i.e. Book pariticpants Mobile, PTA Mothers Library and 20-minute Reading of Mother and Child, were meant thatBunko not only targeted individual mostly to reach the people in rural areas and children but evolved into a movement to set to promote reading among them, whereas up public libraries for the community that 'Bunko' was developed through the mothers all citizens can easily make use of. living in urban areas.When urban areas In the beginning, the libraries were taking expanded into suburbs, which has been the initiative to provide reading opportunities happening in major cities in Japan for a few but now the people themselves are trying decades, the development of libraries did not hard to bring more public libraries or to keep pace with such expansion.The reading submit demands regarding libraries.As a environment for children in such areas was result of the cooperative efforts made quite poor with no libraries, for example. together with the librarians and people Therefore, in order to solve this problem, toward the local governments, the number of some mothers got together with their own public libraries has increased by 50% in these books and opened their homes as free reading ten years.There were1250libraries 10 spaces for neighbourhood children.However, years ago but now there are1850,which the number of books that members can bring means that in only 10 years 600 libraries to Bunko is quite limited, at the most some were set up over the whole country.It was tens to hundreds of books only.Also supported greatly by the movement of Bunko. children can soon finish reading the whole Such participation of people in the collection of books in Bunko, since children's community is quite important in reading reading speed is so fast, and such children promotion activities. will not come back to the Bunko if there is There are more than 2000 villages and no new book for them to read. cities where there is no library facility in So how to collect new books has become Japan at present.Even if we set up 50 a major concern for Bunko organizers. In every year, it will take 40 years. this connection, the mothers started a Therefore,Ithink itis really important to movement to borrow many books from the prom. ':elibrary movements in rural and central library of the area.By that time, fishing villages with the cooperative efforts libraries had instituted group lending to rural of those in the community. areas and for those who come to the library As a sixth point, the Japan Library themselves.Though they had never loaned Association (JLA) focuses on the movement to many books at a time to volunteer groups in make public libraries.The increase of the town, the mothers' earnest efforts made libraries means the increase of the reading it possible to borrow books.400 to500 population. books are loaned to one Bunko and this Recently the government report on "Public system started to spread all over the Opinion on Reading and Libraries" was country.At present the number of Bunko is released.The same research was conducted estimated to be around 3000.Now the 10 years ago and according to that, 16.9% of Bunko is not only found in urban areas but the whole population used libraries more than is also developing in rural areas.It is once a year, and research for this year because mothers always want their children shows24.3%. But we cannot be satisfied to love books and reading. with this figure, we should at least try to increase it to50to 60%. Some Bunko last more than 10 years and JLA conducts several programmes to some only for a year or so.So you can see support the public libraries in promoting
14 15 reading.Firstly, we appeal to government, I saw children playing or a kindergarden,I to society anto individuals, stressing the stopped my vehicle and went to them with a importance of public and school libraries in few books in my hand, though people who promoting reading habits.Also through were waiting for the Book-Mobile to come Reading Week, we collaborate with many sometimes complained.At any rate, to read organizations. books aloud to children is a very important Secondly, we select recommendable books. lesson for librarians.In those cases,I made There are about 60,000 titles published a the smallest one sit on my lap and started to year in Japan and among them about 35,000 read near to them with certain rhythms. I to 40,000 titles are on the ordinary market. realized, then, that children get interested in Those recommended books are selected by books from listening to rhythms. professionals for libraries and readers, and number 8000 titles a year.The selection is In this way, the Book-Mobile not only listed in the weekly newsletter of JLA as provides books but is a very good way for well as in the weekly newspaper on book the children to learn how to read by reviews, titled "Dokushojin" (Readers). It listening to the librarian. You would find helps the libraries to check which books they many children who can read letters somehow should collect.It also helps the publishers but cannot grasp the story.In that case,I because once the book is introduced in the ask them to read one phrase each.After article, at least 1000 copies can be sold to repeating several times,Irealized that it is libraries, considering that there are 1800 of a very joyful thing for children that the them. The members of the selection letters are understood as words.By thenI committee consist of about 50 young had become very close to many children in university professors specializing in various the area and they asked me to read for them subject areas.Every week we borrow new and to practise together to be able to read titles from a major distribution company for smoothly. It was the start of my career as a about a week for the selection.In this way librarian. we try to publicize good books. How about activities for adults?In my The third committee is concerned with case,I wF:ked into the mountains to small how to promote reading and create a villages with about 30 books on my back.In favourable environment for reading among the public bath-house in the village,Iset up children, physically disabled people, including a reading corner where people could read the blind and the deaf, and also those in the and borrow books to take home after a bath hospital.For example, in the children's book in the evening.At around 10 o'clock in the section, booklets on mothers'activities for evening, young men in the village got children's reading and annual reports on together soIorganized a reading circle with children's libraries have been published. them.It helped much to relate their They meet and discuss such common issues thinking to books. such as how to provide library service for young adults who are between 10 and 15-16. For small children, books are same as toys but itis the very start of relating The fourth is the technical training of books and minds and feeling that books are library personnel.Among various projects of very close to them.They play with books JLA, we place main focus and efforts on the and can tear them but itis the first step to library service for children, youth and learniing language, to reading books and to disabled persons. thinking.So Iof ten told mothers not to scold their children when they tear books. Librarians and Promotion of Reading Habits We designed 6 kinds of vehicles for the I would like to speak about the librarians Book-Mobile to reach different areas. We and the promotion of reading habits based on needed bigger vehicles so that we could my personal experience. carry many books. But for mountainous roads, we had to have smaller ones.In spite When Iwas driving the Book-Mobile and of all the efforts, stillI found that was distributing books in1948, the vehicle encouraging people to read and to increase carried about 2000 titles and some films, libraries is difficult work. projector and screen.It was usually two days to three days' trip at onetime. When After 20 years of such work as a
16 15 librarian,I became the director of a public tool, or if when you see a book, you library in Sakae City in Osaka, the immediately want to open it and see what is population of which is 800,000. Itried to in it. establish branch libraries because only one central library could not serve the purpose. Such an atmosphere is created by mothers It was not easy to get funds from the local and librarians.From the relationship of government, but it was made possible through language, letters and books, it is very the cooperation of the mothers of Bunko important to read books to children who activities. cannot read letters, near to their ears with rhythm.In this case, picture books help Now there are 10 branch libraries in much. Sakae City.First we borrowed a used vehicle which was no longer required by the The second factor is to make book local government bodies and set it in the reading an enjoyable game for children, park with tyres taken off and chained up so reading with rhythm like singing a song. In that it would not move.We made shelves in this case, enjoyable stories are needed and it the vehicle and arranged the books. Such a is the publishers', writers', illustrators' and 'library' was open once or twice a week and editors' responsibility to produce many maintained by mothers of that area from 1 enjoyable books which can be reached by to 5-6 o'clock in the afternoon when children. children returned home from school.Children who used that library became very fond of The third factor in becoming fond of books and it grew into a pressure movement reading is when they realize that to read for the government to set up more libraries. and be fond of reading is something to be Such activities laid the foundation for the proud of.One of the ways to achieve this setting up of a branch library. is for others, such as mothers, to listen to children reading and to praised them. After Therefore Ifeel that the first important being praised, children become fond of step in setting up libraries is to make the reading itself and fond of thinking. children and mothers in the area become fond of reading books, which creates a need The first phase in development is 1 to 2 and demand for using libraries. Ithink it is years old, the second phase is kindergarten a responsibility of the director of the age, and the third, which is 3rd or 4th grade libraries to consider how all the citizens can in primary school, is the time when they utilize the library and to be fond of reading think books are enjoyable tools for their books.Of course there are other activities amusement.At this time if they are not for librarians other than to read for praised much or if they only read textboo!,s children, such as to provide necessary unwillingly, they cannot be fond of books. reference materials and information. Therefore, I suggest that you praise children However,I came to a kind of conviction when you see them reading. that if you cannot read books for children, a high level of work cannot be expected. Lastly,Ishould like to tell you the Literacy education in which many of you are following three ways to promote reading involved in is extremely essential and habits in the society. important as itisthe basis for such library movements and community development 1 think first comes the love for each movements. In relating to somebody with love, they can make books their tools for Methods of Promoting Reading Habits communicating ideas and languages.In Japan people treasured books and they taught As mentioned earlier, the first thing is to children that to step over the books is wrong make people get used to books, that is, to behaviour and to leave books on the floor or keep books around them not feeling them as somewhere is not acceptable.But such a stumbling block, or to create and maintain behaviour will take the books away from an atmosphere to he able to feel that the people. Therefore Ithink itis more letters they find in hooks have some important to think that the books exist in meanings to them, that equip them for order that we as human beings can and will everyday life. Iconsider one of the targets grow.We need such a desire and love to is achieved if you can think of a book as a make us better human beings, interrelating
16 17 reading and human development. succeed.It is not possible to promote reading in the community only through the In the reports of the participants, it was government.When the government tried to pointed out that the existence of teachers impose only one way of reading and thinking and mothers would encourage only reading on people, Japan started a war.If you try textbooks, or helping the work in the family. to use such uniform thinking, though it may Many people came to me also for advice on be fast in spreading, it may result in failure. how they can have a reading environment. Ithink it is important that many people with What we told them was, before you read, different thoughts cooperate in such work. make your mother-in-law, for example, fond And making people read does not produce any of books by loaning the books that she would money so you need love for the community like.In case of Bunko also, you should first and a good technique to ask people to make mothers like the books.If the mothers cooperate.I think it is required for the do not like to read, then they do not libraries to have good ways of asking for encourage children to read.Therefore, in people's cooperation to get all the people in this way,it is quite important, though not the community read. easy, tomake every one of us add reading to our enjoyments. This is now the situation Then, from individual and community at the individual or the family level. levels, we move to national level.We should push the government to provide more funds The second point is, in trying to extend for the reading and book promotion activities any movement or activity in the whole and persuade them that reading is the community, whoever you may be, for fcundation for developing culture, economy example, librarians, government officers, and to form a society of the citizens' school teachers, etc., itis very important to mutual consent.It requires much time and try to involve people and ask them to effort to achieve.In any case.Ifeel that participate and to cooperate in the we librarians must have confidence in this activities.Without such will, you cannot thinking and carry on with all possible effort. * This is an abridged translation of the transcription of Mr. Kurihara's lecture.
c'ess1111.-) omo' MAGAZINES WELCOLVIE io Se k ido TECHNOLOGY,ENGINE6RING 0 STRv,COMMERCE SCIENCES. rvi SPORTS P H I LO S OPH= LAN CukCES GENERAINi ^vELS Ogit 'MEDICNIf El 252A1.21-118A1 IBEX El 4-
1 SOCIAL AvEl . INC SCIENCES
NOVELES7 SOCIAL -Or SCIENCES I& 414 NOVELS LITERATURE
NOVELS LI TERATUR E RECENT OICTiONARIES FORIECN 000XsACOUISITIONS REFERENCE BOOKS
ENTRANCE ENTRANCE ARTS ELAPHON rcremain openia era night ulitirrrird7Ttis the Sekido Library was established in August 1984 as the longest open hour among the libraries of euberbe in Tokyo. fifth branch of Tama City Library System. This Branch is It Is unique to be situated in the building for shops convently located for the traffic and it is useful not with an apartment house, beside the book shop. only for neighbors but all the citisona. It has an area "Story Hour" is one of the characteristic service of 1045 square meters and 60.000 coloction which is twice for children. It is held twice a week in order to bring es large as other branches.A reading room and a meeting children with books and, of course, give them enjoyment. room it provided for users.The central processing unit we read piCtur books, make Ilendicrefte and chemical of110,..M....a...... WMA...1 the on-line system is settled here.OS.ON.1.41. experiments.
illustrated map of Tama City Library (Selcido Branch) which the participants of the Training Course visited
18 1 7 DEVELOPMENT OF READING PROMOTION MOVEMENT IN JAPAN
Kenichi Ino Secretary-General Japan Council for Promotion of Book Reading
The Japan Council for Promotion of The Council has received strong support Book Reading was first established on from other bodies concerned in publishing November 10, 1959. and reading, and it has grown year by year, with 41 local organizations now active in The object of its estaolishment was to their respective areas. contribute to the development and advancement of our culture through the Activity Organizing Committees: diffusion of publications and promotion of hook reading. 24 people comprise the following five committees. The Council was formed by seven representative bodies of publishers and 1.Children's Book Week Committee. libraries, as a successor to the Executive 2.Book Week Committee. Committee for the Book Week which had 3.Periodicals Month Committee. been the sponsoring body for the Book 4.Promotion of Young Adult's Book Weeks held since the autumn of 1957. Reading Committee. 5. Committee to Promote Book Reading In the thirty years since, it has for Young People Who Have Just sponsored the two big events of the Book Begun Their Company Careers. Week held every autumn and the Children's Book Week held every spring.These two Activities: programmes have now become established national event in Japan. 1) Children's Book Week (May 1-May 14) Besides these Weeks, the Council has 1989 marked the 31st Children's Book promoted love of books and book reading Week. among the general public throughout the year with such events as "Promotion of 65,000 sheets of multi-colored posters book reading on Adult's Day" and "Let's to be printed and distributed to primary Read, New Members of Society!" and so on. schools and junior & senior high schools, public libraries, and bookstores It has also planned various projects and throughout the country. movements to further the understanding and interests of the publishing business.The Book reading in reading circles, Council has been the core of such activities lectures by authors, symposiums, up to the present. exhibitions & spot sales of recommended children's books, to be held in various The Japan Council for Promotion of Book Reading has as its component bodies places throughout the country. the seven corporate juridical persons- -- 2) Book Week (Oct. 27 - Nov. 14) Japan Book Publishers Assn., Japan Magazine Publishers Assn., Japan Assn. of Agents for 1989 marked the 43rd Book Week Published Material, Textbook Publishers sponsored by the Organization. Assn., Federation of Japan Bookstore Assn., Japan Library Assn., and Japan School 70,000 sheets of multi-colored posters Library Assn.These bodies are all were distributed to the same places as representatives of the publishing and library above. worlds of Japan.
18 19 A-7-irds to reading groups for their Organization, and local Associations for activities of book reading promotion. the Promotion of Book Reading etc.
Subsidizing local Associations for the o The objective is to commend and promotion of book reading.(There are recognize individuals or organizations 41 local associations at present) which have performed considerable services in promoting book reading. 3) Periodicals Month (Jul. 21- Aug. 20) o These awards were established in 1971 35,000 sheets of the multi-colored and supported by the interest from the posters were distributed to public fund of Y20,000,000 which was donated libraries, bookstores, members by late Mr. Shoichi Noma, former throughout the country,in 1989. president of Kodansha, to commemorate the CPBR's becoming incorporated. In 4) Promotion of Young Adult's Book 1989, another Y20,000,000 was donated Reading (Jan. 15, Coming-of-Age Day) by Kodansha in memory of its 80th anniversary of foundation, and Y8,000,000 250,000 copies of a leaflet introducing was also donated by the companies 24 recommended books were delivered concerned CPBR. to young adults participating in the Coming-of-Age Day ;Seijin-no-hi, The awards have been very helpful in January 15), a special Japanese stimulating book reading throughout the ceremony for 20 years old, in 1989. country. The leaflets were also distributed to libralies and bookstores. Since its foundation, the Organization has put much stress on the promotion of 5) Promotion of Book Reading for Young children's book reading.For six years from People Who Have Just Begun Their 1969, it sponsored a special campaign for Woking Careers motivating school children to read more books.50 books were selected for third In 1989, 205,000 copies of a leaflet grade students and professionals such as introducing 24 recommended books were librarians from local public libraries were distributed to graduation exercises for sent to the classroom.These professionals senior high school, and also to public introduced these books to the students in libraries, bookstores, and local various ways: presenting the actual books to Associations for Promotion of Book the pupils, giving an outline of some of the Reading. books, storytelling, and finally lending the introduced books to the pupils for reading Promotion of Book Reading on occasion of at home. "Respect-for-the-Aged Day" (Sept. 15) The books were circulated among 180,000 copies of a leaflet introducing children at first, but as an offshoot of this, 24 recommended books were distributed not only the children but their teachers and through public libraries and bookstores. parents also became further interested in book reading.This became an important Awards for the Promotion of Book Reading factor in the increase in the number of regional reading groups which now became o Awarded during the Book Week in innumerable numbers throughout the Autumn to organization and individuals. country.
o Awards are a diploma, a plaque and a monetary prize.
o Selection for Awards:The Central Selecting Committee will select the awards upon recommendations of the Local Board of Education, the curators of public libraries, newspaper companies, broadcasting companies, members of the 1J 20 ROLES OF SCHOOL LIBRARIES AND THEIR ACTUAL STATE IN JAPAN
'ioshie Nagai Librarian Kuwata Lower Secondary School
I.Activities of School Libraries III. Why School Libraries Are Necessary - a case study of school library in lower -irinciples of school libraries and secondary school in Okayama, Japan school education I) Provid:ng materials to support school I) Supporting School Education ed - For easy understanding of lessons * We try to secure 'free reading' of - Experiencing the joy of knowing and pupils and to help to enrich the discovering content of class lessons. 2) Forming the basis for democracy - reservation, for books education - lending, reading, photocopying - reference service - to be able to think and to judge individually 2) Developing activities for all the to secure the rights to study and to pupils/students to relate to their interests know and to make positivie use cf library resources IV. Efforts to Facilitate Good School - book talk Libraries - reading-aloud, story telling - towards providing good education and providing book lists culture for all the children - publicity activities - organizing special events, such as mini 1) at various local government levels theatre, extensive activities of class 2) nation-wide lessons, peace education and reading 3) international cooperation circles, etc. - parents 3) Produc.ig and promoting cultural activities - teachers - All those involved in education, reading - For cultivating 'community culture' and culture for children such as writers, editors and librarians, etc. II.Present State of School Libraries in Japan
i 1111111111116.2 ! dik '3111illr
The participants visiting a science school reading room class in a primary school in primary school
20 21 UTILIZATION OF MEDIA FOR READING PROMOTION
Yasuo Ueda Assistant Professor Sophia University
( 1 ) Newspapers Radio programmes on reading and introduction of books such as "Watashi no a) book review in daily newspapers Hondana" (My Book Shelf) on the radio are reported. Most daily newspapers in Japan carry 2-3 pages for book review every week.Its b) radio programmes on books from private editorial system and functions of such book radio stations review pages will be discussed. Radio programmes of introducing books b) special newspapers for book review on FM radio will be reported from my own experience and roles of radio programmes in We will discuss how the book review promoting reading will be discussed. newspapers such as "Shuukan Dokushojin" (Weekly The Readers) and "Tosho Shimbun" (Book Newspaper) are published and roles (3) Television they play, from my experience as an editor of such paper. a) Television brought "tele-seller" books c) introduction of books in articles in "Tele seller" books is a term used for newspapers those books which became best sellers because they were produced in TV Examples of articles which dealt with programmes or were written by popular TV books in their "News" and "Domestic Affairs figures.Such examples will be reported. and Everyday Life" sections, will be explained. b) TV programmes of introducing books Roles of TV programmes in promoting (2) Radio reading is discussed taking the example of a programme called "The Best Seller" and the a) introduction of books on NHK radio possibilities that TV programmes can play in (semi-governmental radio station) reading promotion.
VII I ; Ii.h1Lid I fi
111111101 J.,;i1 11110 111P111 ! lir- I . 111111 ill d'a.
q:11 1 1 tvklik,iii4,_41.1itta 11, 1,.1,;, qui _ --; J book reviews in magazine 110111 i ri q 1111:4 !Min AEI (n! and newspaper
22 21 CREATION AND EFFECTIVE PRESENTATION OF PICTURE PLAYS (KAMISHIBAI)
Noriko Matsui Author Illustrator
What is Kamishibai While Kamishibai is played childrencan talk, laugh, cry or do whatever else their Kamishibai is a Japanese traditional story imaginations tell them to do. show. Kamishibai is performed like a play, It is produced as a total art to be therefore there are always player and performed like a drama.Today, Kamishibai audiences.The player is able to talk to is an effective teaching tool which is children as audience and children talk back welcomed by children. their idea.The fact of that most of the time a player of Kamishibai is a familiar It has a plenty of action packed, person like as one of their mothers or colourful pictures and story of Kamishibai teachers make children more comfortable tell children their everyday-life, emotion and helps to improve their better and feelings. relationship between a player and children. Kamishibai is an essential teaching tool Therefore, Ibelieve that Kamishibai is especially for education of young children the excellent cultural asset to teach which needs intimate communication between children regarding their individuality their children and teachers. idea, feeling and emotion.
BAD-TENIPERED M R. COOK
written & illustrated by Noriko Matsui
* This Kamishibai was used in the Training Course to understand the characteristics and effects of Kamishibai.
II Nhat should I do,Mr. Cook is in a bad temper. Ilis moustache is socking up and his mouth is tightll shut. %hat shouldI deIlty, Mr. Conk, cheer - Cheap thls'sheet slowly. - Mr. Cook:Mrnm h
121 'My. My. My. His temper became even %nrse. %lel% uhat can I du to make ,nu (eel better, Mr. - Sway this sheet like a stave and pull It out. - Mr. rook: Mnvo, Mnyu, Mnyu
23 2 () (31 'H000cops Idon't know what to do, Mr. Cook'Shat shouldI do - Slide the sheets as you bounce It. -
Mr. Cook:'Pun-pun. Bun-bun. Pun-pun Bun-bun.'
(4) 'Oh, dear, Mr. Cook.Ka-chin, Ka-chin.' ( pause I 'Nothing seems to make you cheerful. Oh, Mr. Cook, I give up" (short pause) - Slide sheet quickly. -
(Si 'Gee, what happened?Mr. Coon has disappeared.%%here has he gone? Con you find him somewhere around you? Shy don't we look for him? Not here? I wonder what has hap, ned to him.' ( pause 'Maybe he is hiding himself here.Shall we hale Just a quick look in there' Slide sheet slowly to the line Instructed. 'Here he is.I hope Mr. Cook's in a better temper now.Now, let's see.' Slide the rest of sheets quickly. -
(6) 'He has turned around. Shat should) do" ( pause 'Yes, let's can him to turn around and show us his face.' Everybody:'Mr. Coo k, look here' (short pause) lgy As you slide sheet - Mr. Cook: Iimmmmmmm
171 'Mr. Cook has become cheerf.A.As his had temper has gone, we can ask him to prepare something very delicious for us.Mr. Cook, give us something good.' Mr. Cook:'Hm, Hm, - As you slide sheet - 'How, such a gc., Is coming.' (ii 'Kum, Kum. Shy don't we smell this, together' Shot kind of smell is it'Shat is being cooked,I wonder.Shall we Paso quick look inside the pan" - Slide sheet slowly. -
(9) 'Km, Km, Kru, Kuru.Gru, Gru, Gru. Guru.' Gtsu, Gtsc, Gtsu, Gutsu, Kru. Kru, Kru, Kum. Gru, Gru, Gm, Ct.ru. Gtsu, GIsu. Gtsu, Gutsu. Well, what has been made" Slide sheet quickly. - 'Here itis!'
(101 'A huge and tasty candy'Sow, it looks so good. But, only this big one won't do for esersiods. Mr Cook, please make mans smallercos 6, all of us. All right," - Slid` slowly to the 1/5 from left 'One candy makes three.Three mane.. -- - Slide sheet to the 2/5 from lett - 'Seven, Seven makes - Slide the rest quickly at once. - 'This many candies..
1111 'This will serve for esenborh.Snirh colour you want'Shall we taste it now"O,n.n. this is really good'Hey, what is Mr. Cook doing,I wonder,' - As you slide sheet - 'Mr. Coo 10"
(IS)'Oh, Mr. Cook is also licking the rands On,c1. Mr. Cook is happy.Eserybody is happy. The had-tempered cook became a happy cook.
(End)
24 23 PART II : HOW TO SUCCEED INPROMOTING READING HABITS reports of group discussion
24
BEST COPY AVAILABLE REPORT OF GROUP (A) allocation of funds as well as good training.All these can be achieved by How to Succeed in Promoting Reading Habits having a library legislation in order to and Their Practical Actions facilitate systematic planning and effective implementation.The revision of the educational system towards a liberal Members: policy is then required. Reading promotion can be further activated in many rural Ms. Tshering Wangmo (Bhutan) areas with the assistance of the Mr. Gao Xianjun(China) government by providing and increasing Mr. G. Sivaswamy (India) the funds available.The personnel Ms. Aizan Mohd. Ali (Malaysia) involved in these activities either in rural Ms. Supannee Varatorn (Thailand) or urban areas can only provide effective Mr. Bui Viet Bac (Vietnam) services if they ai ,. given sufficient Mr. Shinji Tajima (ACCU) professional training. Ms. Taeko Kurokawa (ACCU) 3.Utilizing mass media by having interesting book review columns, book discussions and The problems and solutions on the children's programmes will help to promotion of rending habits in Asia and disseminate information to the masses on Pacific Region are well-known.In fact, a wider scale. participants at the 21st Training Course last year had devoted themselves to this task and 4. There is a need for the availability of had identified and listed out the broad areas reading materials to various levels of which needs attention. people which can be achieved by improving the quality of reading materials It was, therefore thought, that we should especially to children and neo-literates. carry forward the job commenced by them by In instances where original worics are suggesting Action Plan for implementing the lacking, translation activities may different solutions indicated by them. overcome. this problem.II 'wever, the publication of pornographic materials Accordingly, we in Group A first of all shoult4 be controlled.With technological tried to spell out the possible ways how to advances, cost of book production should succeed in this effort. be cheaper and prices can be lowered to increase the population's buying power. HOW TO SUCCEED IN PROMOTING The above achievements will be READING HABITS meaningless if a good distribution network is not available to reach the masses. 1.By promoting reading among people with help of parents, teachers and institutions. 5.Facilitate reading promotion by providing Parents' awareness towards reading play adequate reading facilities thn_.Jghout the an important role in promoting reading by country by increasing and improving the creating a reading family environment mobile and rural library services and whereby a few hours will be allocated for establishing more aome libraries.Reading their children to read either for pleasure promotion activities should be seriously or otherwise.Parents need to realise done by organising competitions, book that reading should start from a very clubs, book fairs, reading camps, etc. at young age.In relation to this, 'teachers regional and national levels.Programmes must give encouragement and guidance to for the disabled groups should also he school children on the importance of arranged and implemented. reading which can later be extended when the children return to their homes. While outlining the role of different Besides this, religious institutions should Forums/Groups including Government, we felt set up small reading rooms to enable any that the task of improving the reading reading activities to be carried out at materials was very important and significant. any time desirable. Maybe it has to be dealt with on top priority basis. 2. The government should provide the overall policy, planning and development, Accordingly, an Action Pl.in for
'25 27 Qualitative Improvement of Reading Materials literates etc. in general and with particular reference to Guidance to writers and translators children books and material for neo-literates Using mass media for publicity about was taken up. improved books -Publication of book reviews The result of this exercise gave us Organization of book talks several points where actions can be initiated Guidelines for book production specially immediately for achieving success in for children books and material for neo- promoting reading habits.It is as follows: literates Prescription of Standards for printing, ACTION PLANS FOR QUALITATIVE binding etc. IMPROVEMENT OF MATERIALS To have a nodal or central agency at national level to deal with all mattes Research into reading habits/interests connected with promotion of reading Survey of reading materials habits/books Compilation of reactions, opinions, etc. Lay down guidelines for selection of Encourage publication of relevant reading materials, children books etc. materials to meet felt needs Field testing of manuscripts before Adoption of participatory methods in printing especially in case of material for preparation of materials neo-literates. Institution of awards for good books, for Improved technology of printing.to reduce editors, for authors, illustrators, for overall costs publishers, for printers, for book-sellers, -Decentralized distribution net-work etc. Adaptation/translation according to Organization of competitions to promote acceptable norms creative talents in writing, illustrating Exchange of materials between different etc. regions in the same country and in Drawing and painting competitions in between nations. schools Best works of other countries to be Book reading contests in schools translated for encouraging international Publication of folk tales, famous short understanding, cooperation and widening stories etc. in cheaper editions for mass outlook consumption Encourage formation of associations of Writers workshops for preparation of neo- writers, authors, publishers, illustrators, literate reading materials printers, book-sellers etc. to deal with Simplification of language in materials them collectively for promoting better already published for use by neo-literates books. Training and orientation to personnel Positive government policy to be built-up involved in book production such as with active cooperation of concerned editors, illustrators, photographers and groups publishers on needs of children, neo-
REPORT OF GROUP (B) PROBLEMS IN PROMOTING READING I IABITS How to Succeed in Promoting Reading Habits and Their Practical Actions Group 13 focused its attention on development of libraries as one of the major factors in promoting good reading habits. Members: The following main problems were identified in the field of libraries. Mr. Yousuf Ali (Bangladesh) Ms. Shirin Taavoni (Iran) 1.Poor national policies towards libraries. Ms. Kongdeuane Nettavong (Laos) 2.Lack of strong national libraries. Ms. Jamilah Ibrahim (Malaysia) 3. Absence of appropriate library legislation Mr. Jahan Khan Jamro (Pakistan) and standards. Mr. M.S.U. Amarasiri (Sri Lanka) 4.Lack of professional librarians Mr. Shigeru Aoyagi (ACCU) 5.Poor and passive attitudes of librarians.
28 26 6.Inadequate financial resources. as to attract potential users. 7.Insufficient school libraries. 4.Suitable library legislation and library 8.Insufficient public libraries. standards formulated. 9.Status of librarians not recognized. 5.Appropriate training courses should be 10. Poor quality and high price of books and provided by library schools and other other reading materials. relevant agencies. 11. High illiteracy rate. o.Service-oriented attitudes should be 12. Lack of motivation on the part of developed by librarians. potential readers. 7. The statue of librarians as professionals 13. Distraction by T.V. should be recognized. 8.School library services should be extended to all schools through appropriate nodal PRACTICAL ACTIONS points. 9.Public library services should be extended The group then discussed the practical to the whole country through book actions to be taken with regards the above mobile, postal services, reading rooms, problems.The fcllowing were identified: etc. 10. The government shouk allocate adequate 1.The national library should be financial resources to all libraries. strengthened and authorized to do overall 11. The government should provide reading national planning. materials to libraries, free of charge or 2.Library networks and centralized library subsidized prices. services should be developed by relevant 12. The media should be used by the library authorities. for reading promotion activities. 3.Library services should be user-oriented so
REPORT OF GROUP (C) 6.Building of Bunko 7.Encouragement of publication How to Succeed in Promoting Reading Habits 8.Mass-media involvement and Their Practical Actions 9.Book distribution 10. Government support Members: The detailed problems and their solutions are derived as follows: Mr. Mudjito(Indonesia) Ms. Fereshteh Kashefi (Iran) I.LITERACY PROBLEM AND SOLUTIONS Mr. Prabandha Kumar Sakya (Nepal) Ms. Doleti Charope (PNG) Itis realized that the numbers of Ms. Lydia Lalunio(Philippines) illiterates in Asia and the Pacific, Ms. Ki Young-nae (Republic of Korea) particularly in developing countries, are high. Ms. Oh Jung (Republic of Korea) Illiteracy is really one of the most important Ms. Mieko Tase(ACCU) problem in promoting reading habits. The illiteracy problem may be solved by Introduction conducting literacy campaign activitiesas follows: This report classifies problems and Folutions on promotion of reading habits in I.To have a coordinating agency to promote Asia and the Pacific into 10 categories as literacy of adults and out-of-school follows: youths in rural and urban areas. 2. To invite colleges and universities 1.Literacy campaign offering education and courses to join in 2. School campaign the literacy campaign by asking students 3.Building more public and mobile libraries to render service to the target groups. 4. Reading campaign 3. To encourage each local government to 5. Conducting researches, trainings, seminars have a library in village as well as sub and professional organization on reading district level. 27 29 4. To promote non formal education to serve religious organizations to donate books to the neo-literate adults. school libraries. 5. To ask educated parents in cooperating 20. To conduct orientation program of using the promotion of reading habits. libraries and art exhibition in school 6. To encourage each village to carry out a libraries. massive reading campaign for combating 21. To invite model students to tell their illiteracy in the village. experience in TV program. 22. To ask government (local government) to II. SCHOOL CAMPAIGN assist every primary school to have a library with qualified librarian. The problem faced by schools in Asia and 23. To provide good book lists so that the Pacific (particularly in developing librarians can select good books easily. countries) is that the reading habits at 24. To encourage classroom reading by schools is very low. providing various kinds of books other than text-books. This problem might be overcome by 25. To provide story-telling for students. holding a school campaign on promoting 26. To conduct book lovers (book clubs) at reading habits by carrying out activities as every school. follows: 27. To use books as prizes for students who have good achievement. 1.To request school librarians to publish 28. To encourage teachers to motivate their booklist for good childrens' books. students to read books aside from text- 2. To invite librarians and teachers to books. cooperate in planning activities that will 29. To assign students to read certain books promote reading like book clubs, readers' at home. theater, contests, etc. 30. To carry out reading contests for 3. To organize book reading contests at students at schools. schools. 31. To give awards for students in different 4. To choose model students who read a lot age group at local, district, provincial as of books. well as national level who have read a 5. To conduct reading program at schools. lot of books. 6. To establish a network of school 32. To provide reading lesson in the libraries. curriculum of schools. 7. To assign weekly reading report to pupils 33. To conduct book quiz at schools. (students) 34. To promote childrens' literature through 8. To create more games for promoting the Parent-Teachers Association. reading habits. 35. To provide guidance on reading 9. To tell success stories of the benefit of techniques. reading. 36. To exhibit a book fair (exhibition) in 10. To assign students to write abstract of relation with national and religious event. books they have read. 37. To provide school libraries with list of 1. To conduct module system of teaching. good books from publishers. 12. To ask students to study in the library when their teachers are absent. III. PUBLIC AND MOBILE LIBRARIES 13. To publish newsletters in every school and to distribute to student to read. Numbers of public and mobile libraries in 14. To encourage students going to school developing countries are relatively low.This libraries at vacant time. problem can be solved by conducting 15. To encourage teachers to carry out activities as follows: reading lessons lively and interestingly by using text-books and other books. 1. To build more public and mobile libraries. 16. To change the present teaching method to 2. To improve the present situation of the a new method requiring students and existing public and mobile libraries. teachers to read more. 3. To utilize book mobiles to reach people in 17. To assign students to make a resume from remote areas to have access to good books they have read. books. 18. To set time aside for reading other books 4. To establish libraries in mosques and aside of text-books. churches to act as informal public 19. To request publishers, socio-civics and libraries.
30 28 5. To extend library services to disabled compose books and other reading people (people in hospitals, jails, etc.) materials (writers). 6. To provide more funds to libraries in 4. To train people who are interested in order to be able to purchase suitable translation of books from foreign reading materials. countries. 5. To train illustrators and publishers in IV. READING CAMPAIGN preparing childrens' hooks. 6. To encourage colleges and universities to People in developing countries are busy to conduct researches on reading habits for earn money for their living, therefore no different age groups. enough time to read.This problem might be 7. To utilize and implement recommendations solved with reading campaign by conducting of researchers who have conducted activities as follows: research on promoting reading habits. 8. To set up special seminars and lectures 1. To plan an integrated reading program for on the quantity and quality of books all levels of people in society. needed for publishers, illustrators/writers, 2. To conduct reading week throughout the and translators. country. 3. To promote book exhibitions to help VI. BUILDING OF BUNKO AND PARENTS' people to see new books. PARTICIPATION 4. To provide prizes for good book design. 5. To hold contests in writing childrens' In developing countries, there is lack of books and other books for differentage libraries to serve community, therefore, the groups. idea of building libraries like bunko will 6. To organize book clubs among people of promote reading habits of the people.This different age. can be realized by conducting activities as 7. To conduct good examples of reading follows: habits from leaders, teachers, and parents. 1.To encourage parents to organize home 8. To carry out contest for good quality libraries for their family. books. 2. To recommend librarians to talk to 9. To encourage every family to have time parents about the importance of building for reading everyday. mini libraries at home. 10. To disseminate posters, brochures, and 3. To encourage children to read books at other promotion tools to promote reading home rather than watching TV and plyaing habits. computer games by their parents. 11. To invite religious groups, socio-civic 4. To encourage mothers to read books for clubs and other non government agencies their young children. to join in the promotion of reading 5. To provide story-telling in home for their habits. children. 12. To motivate the public of the awareness 6. To present children on birthday with of reading. books. 7. To conduct more activities involving V. RESEARCH, TRAINING & SEMINAR mothers about the importance of reading for children. Data on hook publications, as well as 8. To provide toys and games which will another data for promoting reading habits are promote reading habits at home. usually not available in the developing 9. To provide books and other reading countries, therefore some activities as material overwhelmingly at home. following should be done: VII. ENCOURAGEMENT OF PUBLICATIONS 1.To conduct seminars for librarians, teachers, and parents on how to promote The quality and quantity of reading reacting habits. materials in developing countries are low. 2. To train teachers, librarians, and others These problems might be overcome by the who are involved in the promotion of encouragement of publication as follows: reading to be able to promote reading effectively. 1. To encourage publishers to publish a good 3. To train people who are in charge to quality books for children and other age 1) (
31 groups. developing countries is lack of government 2. To encourage editors to decide papers' support in publication of good books.This quality and size of book as per character problem can be overcome by the following of books. activities: 3. To encourage book publishers to donate books to village reading centers. 1. To subsidize raw material (papers, ink, 4. To publish high quality and interesting etc.) for publishing books by the books for all. government. 5. To encourage publishers to make good 2. To encourage a close cooperation between illustration. publishers and writers/ 6. To publish books in enough quantity for translators/educators. people. 3. To encourage writing, translating and 7. To encourage publishers not to make ,high publishing good quality book by the profit on publishing hooks, so that the government. price is payable by people. 4. To develop and provide books for minority 8. To encourage publishers to prize model dialects and languages in multi-lingual students with books. countries. 5. To control the quality of all publication VIII. MASS-MEDIA INVOLVEMENT from the government. 6. To encourage publishers to publish There is lack of involvement of mass- cheaper books for people in order that media in promoting reading habits in purchasing power increases. developing countries, therefore some 7. To purchase a certain amount of books by consideration should be worked out, such as: the government to distribute to libraries. 1. To encourage mass-media (TV, radio, CONCLUSION newspapers, magazines, etc.) to promote reading like holding reading contests, There are many ways to promote reading programs and interviews with authors, habits in Asia and the Pacific, particularly in etc. developing countr.es.However, how to 2. To advertize books (book review) on implement those ways, there needs an mass-media. integrated program which should be supported 3. To discuss to write articles on reading by parents, teachers, librarians, trainers, promotion on various mass-media. publishers, lecturel'f.:, researchers, mass-media, 4. To publish more news on books, libraries, non-government agencies, leaders, as well as reading habits, on newspapers and the government.No matter what the heavy magazines. burden we have, if we pull together, it will 5. To carry out panel discussion on TV and work.Therefore, cooperation and radio about book-talk, book reviews, coordination in promoting reading habits are story-telling, story reading, etc. a must.Let's work together more closely to make our society much better. IX. BOOK DISTRIBUTION ACTUAL PLANS IN PROMOTING READING Poor book distribution is the major HABITS THROUGH SCHOOL CAMPAIGNS constraint in developing countries.This problem might be solved by doing such activities as follows: Introduction 1. To ease book distribution throughout the Promotion of reading habit is a great country. task.Hence, it requires the cooperation of 2. To improve the distribution system all institutions - the home, the school, the (network) of books to remote areas. government, libraries and our government or 3. To improve mailing order system of books outside agencies to promote it.It is a fact, so that persons who live in remote areas that the school has a great role in this big may get books by mail. undertaking.The school is the source of knowledge, a partner in the country's X. GOVERNMENT SUPPORT progress.Realizing this big responsibility to nation building, Group C chose the school as One of the most important problem in the center in promoting reading habits
32 30 Actual Plans in Promoting Reading Habits that will encourage students to through School Campaigns read good books. 2.3 Encourage them to write their 1.Government's laws and policies concerning impression reports and book reviews school curricular offering, budgeting and of the books they have read. per:.onnel management should stress the 2.4 Set-up a reading corner inside the importance of reading promotion. classroom. 2.5 Encourage the homeroom class 1.1 A longer time for the teaching of organization to take care of the Reading in schools book display in the reading corner. 1.2 Encourage schools to adopt a 2.6 Encourage parents to get involved balanced reading program where in book showers/book donations, free reading activity is done once book lending or book exchange a week. among pupils and parents in class. 1.3 Provide a bigger budget in 2.7 Help the school librarian and other education so that additional teachers plan the school reading classrooms and school libraries can promotion activities for the whole be organized. year. 1.4 Allocate more funds in the school 2.8 Guide students in choosing good budget for the purchase of good books to be read aside from the books in the library. textbooks they use in class. 1.5 Increase the salary of schoolheads, 2.9 Encourage pupils to participate in teachers and librarians to motivate reading contests conducted in the them to work enthusiastically and local and national level. creatively. 2.10 Ask parents to follow-up their 1.6 Establish a network of school children's reading habits at home libraries in the national level. by buying/borrowing books for 1.7 Conduct seminars and training on them. the promotion of reading habits. 1.8 Encourage schoolheads, teachers 3.Libraries can improve their services to and librarians to attend seminars help teachers promote reading habits and further training to update their job competencies related to reading 3.1 determine suitable opening hours promotion. for the students to borrow books in 1.9 Give incentives to those who will the library. conduct researches on reading 3.2 Provide teachers a list of good promotion. books that are available in the 1.10 Publish researches conducted on school library. reading promotion and implement 3.3 Publish in the school newsletter, the findings and recommendations library activities that are related of these studies. to reading promotion. 1.11 Encourage schoolheads and other 3.4 Organize hook clubs, reading school personnel to lead by example circles and other student in supporting reading promotion organizations that will help promote activities. reading habits 3.5 Coordinate with the national and 2. Teachers should coordii closely with other public libraries to help school administrators, ok...er teachers, student borrow other books. libratians, parents and other outside 3.6 Ask book donations from outside agencies in providing creative and agencies like PTA, publishing interesting activities to promote reading houses, socio/civic clubs and habits inside and outside the classroom. religious organizations. 3.7 Help parents organize home 2.1 Plan a good reading program in libraries by lending books at a class which will give time to pupils certain period of time. to read good books in the library. 3.8 Conduct storytelling sessions 2.2 Utilize contests, games, puppet through the book club to attract shows, poster-making, book talks, more children to read books in the storytelling and other activities library.
31 33 will 3.9 Coordinate with teachers and or any related movements that school heads in conducting encourage people to read books. researches toward reading 5.7 Literacy teachers and any outside promotion. organizations conducting literacy classes to out-of-school youths and 4.Parents can help teachers and librarian adults can coordinate with the develop good reading habits to their school in exchanging good books children and others' children. and other reading materials. 5.8 Religious organizations/institutions 4.1 Set good examples by reading good should encourage their followers to books themselves. set good examples in promoting 4.2 Buy good books to their children reading habits. and read these to them. 4.3 Lend books for the class' reading 6.Multi-media like TV, radio, newspapers corner. and magazines can help advertize 4.4 Donate books in the library. programs, projects, contests and other 4.5 Organize home libraries with the activities done by the school and other help of other parents. outside agencies supporting the school in 4.6 Follow-up their children's the promotion of reading. assignments in writing book reviews, book reports, etc. 6.1 Provide radio or TV programs that 4.7 Donate books as prizes during will feature teachers, publishers, school activities like programs parents, and any persons or contests, etc. organizations that have done 4.8 Remind their own children to outstanding work in reading borrow books from the library and promotion. return them punctually. 6.2 Hold contests and games that will encourage people to read good 5. Other related agencies like the publishing books houses, professional organizations, 6.3 Conduct contests in poster-making, religious and socio-civic agencies can help slogan-writing, story-writing, support the school in the reading storytelling and other reading- promotion. related activities in radio and TV programs. 5.1 Publishers can provide school 6.4 Provide radio or TV programs that libraries a book list of their newly hold storytelling, readers theater, published children's books. puppet shows, creative dramatics of 5.2 They can put-up book exhibits, folktales and other stories from book contests, book talks and good books. storytelling session in school t,.5 Invite popular people in the libraries. government, movies and other 5.3 Good and creative writers can be profession to lead on encouraged to write good books for advertisements related to reading children. promotion. 5.4 Publishers can be encouraged to 6.6 Publish book reviews of good books publish and sell good quality for all age levels in newspapers, children's books (content, magazines, TV and radio programs. presentation, illustration, binding) at a reasonable price. 5.5 Professional organizations of CONCLUSION teachers and librarians can conduct seminars and training for school The specific activities of each group and personnel, publishers, parents and agency that supports school campaigns in other non-government agencies to promoting reading habits can be successful make them aware of their role in only if there is unity - a close coordination reading promotion. of each one.This maybe a difficult, tedious 5.6 Parent Teacher Associations (PTA) and a long process but with joint effort and can adopt projects like Parent-Child common goal-success will not be that far. Book Hour, Share-a-Book Project
34 3 PART III: STATUS-QUO OF PROMOTION OF READING HABITS IN ASIAN/ PACIFIC COUNTRIES reports of the participants
Photograph by U Nyaung U Pho Cho (Myanmar )
33
BEST COPY AVAILABLE Bangladesh programmes include: recitation, story-telling, drama, cartoon, poetry-reading, etc.Special PRESENT SITUATION AND PROBLEMS programmes on subjects like science, English, OF CHILDREN'S READING AND Mathematics, etc. are broadcast and telecast READING PROMOTION ACTIVITIES IN both by TV and Radio for children. Discussion programmes on the publication of BANGLADESH new children books are there to create interest among children to develop reading habits. by Md. Yousuf Ali Bangladesh Shishu Role of Writers and Publishing Houses of Academy Children's Books: Present situation Every year many new books come out. These are well designed and attractive. After the establishment of Bangladesh, as They cover science, fiction, stories, rhymes, a sovereign state there was a new awakening drama, biography and other subjects.Most among the educated middle class.Many of the books are published by the private English and Bengali newspapers, magazines, publishing houses.Bangladesh Shishu journals etc. were published.The role of Academy is the government organization these papers is praiseworthy.These papers which has well-designed publication introduced special feature pages for children programme exclusively for children.This to popularise reading habits among children. Academy is trying to provide attractive Exclusive little magazines in Bengali devoted children's publications at subsidized rates. to children were published.Among them the Thus these books are becoming more popular names of Dhan Saliker Desh, Kishore Bangla day by day and contributing to the spread of and Full Kurir Asar may be mentioned. the reading habits. Another government publishing house is Children's Journals: Bangla Academy, which publishes a number of children books and a quarterly juvenile I am most happy to mention here that the magazine. year 1976 is very important in the history of Another pioneering private publishing the publication of little journal.A new house is Muktadhara, which publishes well- little magazine called 'Shishu' (children) was designed and attractively illustrated books on published by the Bangladesh Shishu Academy a variety of subjects.While attempting to (Children Academy).This is F very popular increase the standard of book production by journal throughout the country.It is a wide publicity and advertisement through monthly publication which contains stories, cinema, radio, television, newspaper, posters, poems, novels, features, science fictions, catalogue and leaflet, to attract readers in inventions, quiz etc. with illustrations by the nook and corner of the country. famous artists. Private publishers such as, Baighar and 'Nabarun' is another popular monthly Ahmed Publishing House also publish children children journal.This is published by the books every year. Department of Film & Publication, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh Shishu Academy was set up Bangladesh. with the promulgation of the Bangladesh Another little journal 'Sabuj Pata' Shishu Academy Ordinance in 1976.It has (Green Page) is published by the Islamic programmes to promote reading habits among Foundation of Bangladesh. the children by providing library facilities 'Kishore Gagat' (Children World) another and publication of children books and monthly little journal is published by a journals. private organization.But all these little Central Library of Bangladesh Shishu journals cannot cater to the needs of Academy is housed inits headquarters in children enough. Dhaka.This library has accommodation for one lac books and sitting arrangement for 12oles of the National Radio & Television: two hudnred readers.There are 15,000 vol. of hoo!cs including journals and magazines in Both Radio and Television have special the library.Books are on children literature programmes for the children.These and allied subjects.These include: junior
34 37 encyclopedias, science, biographies, 2) Children libraries are rarely found in our geographies, histories, etc. country. About 150 children, on the average, 3) Country's literacy rate is 30 percent.So attend the library daily.In the aforesaid most of the children cannot avail the figure both boys and girls of different opportunity offered to them. schools of the Dhaka city are included. 4) Due to poverty most of the children The librarian makes arrangement of cannot afford to buy books. various programmes for children towards 5) The teachers of the Government Primary development of reading habits for them. & High Schools are not trained in These includes weekly educational librarianship. programmes and study tours.More than 745 children attend a weekly programme. Recommendations Bangladesh has 64 districts now.The Bangladesh Shishu Academy has 20 branch 1)The books and journals for the children libraries in old district headquarters.Our should be increased at the initiative of present Government has a plan to expand the Government and private organizations. branch libraries in the new districts 2) The number of children library should be gradually. increased. There is a librarian in each of these 3) Every primary and secondary level schools libraries.The branch librarian arranges should have a library. library based programmes for children readers 4) The frequent exhibition of the new books similar to those of the central librarian. should be arranged. The district level library collects books from 5) Every public library should have children the central library.The Librarian of the corner. central library is responsible for training of 6)"Children Reader Week" should be the branch librarians to promote reading observed. habits for children & library development. 7) "Best Children Reader" should be honoured by the Government. The National Book Centre (NBC) has 8) Seminar, symposia, training programmes helped the Book Lovers Club (Grantha Shurid should be arranged on children reading Samity).The NBC can chalk out similar habits. support programmes for voluntary Book 9) A committee of library experts should be Lovers Club by setting up separate section constituted to recommend ways and means for children.Bishwa Shahitaya Kendra to develop reading habits among our (World Literature Centre) has a book reading children. programme for the young children throughout 10)Private sector organizations and the country. philanthroists should come forward to establish children as well as public Libraries through extensive purchases libraries. provide a wide and stable book market. Libraries constitute the backbone of the book Reading habits must he developed as a industry and such library development in this pleasure not as drudgery for passing exams. country.For the national interest and for It must develop as a voluntary, activity in their own interest to help promote reading homes, schools and children libraries where habits for children the publishers and facilities for reading must be provided to booksellers must support and campaign for an children at a young age.Here the effective network of libraries. publishers and booksellers can help promote reading habits by selling books to school In this backdrop it can be safely libraries at a special discount. concluded that the library movement started by us, will gather momentum in the years to MY PLAN OF ACTIONS FOR come.By the year two thousand, we hope, we shall be able to reach to an enviable PROMOTING READING HABITS IN MY position in this South Asian region. COUNTRY Problems on Reading Promotion Bangladesh is a over populated and developing country.Before preparing my 1) Children books and journals are plan of actions for promoting reading habits, inadequate. Ishould remember the population problems of 35 38 our country.The government and the people every school should have a library.The of the every corner should come forward to librarian or the teacher-librarian can solve the problem. introduce some programmes such as book Our second problem is illiteracy.Most of talk, reading aloud, story telling, study the people of our country are illiterate.If group, quiz competition, etc. for the student. we want to promote reading habit, first of There should be a library committee to all, we have to educate the mass people. promote reading habit among the student and The government should make a effective plan the library development. to solve the illiteracy problems.The private Publishers can play most important role to agency and the voluntary associations also promote reading habit by publishing high should come forward to face the problems. quality low price books for children and They should develop literacy campaign adults.They can publish more illustrated throughout the country by distributing and picture books for children.Occasionally posters, leaflets, literacy materials such as publishers and book-sellers can sell their AJP materials of ACCU etc.The primary books by special discount.They can also and secondary education should be free and publish book review journals for high quality compulsory for all by the government.The books.Appropriate training course, government also should increase the funds of workshop, symposium should be conducted for libraries and extend their services to the reading related personnels. rural areas by providing mobile and home Comprehensive publicity should be libraries.The government should declare the introduced by mass media regarding the best reward for reading related organization matter.TV media can introduce separate in every year. channel for the children. National library of our country should Association of parents, librarians, coordinate networks for all libraries.For publishers, authors, teachers, book-sellers, this reason this library should be printers, etc. should be formed to promote strengthened. Public library is the largest reading habit and book development. organization of any country.This library I have a plan to organize programme for can chalk-out so many programmes to our branch Jibrarians and reading related promote reading habit among the people. personnels to introduce 'kamishibai' or Every public library should have a children picture show programmes for the elementary corner. More public, children and mobile students which Iacquired through the library should be established in our country training programme. by the initiative of public and private sector.Many Bun kos or home libraries are to be organized by the initiative of public Bhutan libraries.The library services should be users oriented.The library legislation of our country should be developed.The status of MY PLAN OF ACTION FOR PROMOTING reading related personnels should he honoured READING HABITS IN BHUTAN by the government. Comprehensive reading promotion campaign should be developed by observing Book Week by Tshering Wangmo and specially Book Week for children in Teachers' Training every year.Frequent book fairs both fel- College adult and children are to be held throughout the country. More book clubs are to be Once Ireach my country I have to visit established in the country.The book reading the Director of Education to report on the council should be formed by the one or two activities conducted in ACCU on book member of library, publisher, writer, teacher, promotion and reading habits. Iwill then book-seller and parent association to adopt give him a detailed description of all the effective programmes to promote reading programmes thatI have observed during my habit and book development all over the stay in Japan.Based on my observations of country.National book reading competition the activities on book promotion and reading and other awards competition related to habits during the Training Course,Iwill reading should be organized by this council. make certain suggestions to the Director of Every schools and teachers can play an Education for the development of reading important role to promote reading habit habits in my country. among the school children.In this regards I) The Director should meet with the staff
36 39 of the "Curriculum Division" to include These are some of the immediate reading habits as a part of the school activities thatIwill conduct once I reach curriculum so that the importance of my country,Ifeel it is very necessary to reading is realized by the children. promote reading habits in every country. 2) During his visits to different schools, the Director should stress mainly on the development of reading habits in his China speech. 3) The Director should approach the other MAIN PRACTICES AND PROBLEMS IN foreign offices like UNDP, UNICEF, etc. PROMOTING READING HABITS OF in our country to help us with enough CHINESE YOUNGSTERS funds to buy books for schools. 4)If possible to send a permanent librarian to each school. 5) These librarians should be well trained so by Gao Xianjun that they know how to conduct a lot of People's Literature literacy activities like Kamishibai, story Publishing House telling with pictures, etc. 6) The Department of Education should C:iina is a country with an age-old conduct seminars and workshops on tradition of reading habits.Chinese youth development of reading habits, for the always show zeal for books.In ancient school teachers. times they did so to make an official.But 7) The Director should sit with the text now they read books for knowledge, book division to discuss on the publishing appreciations of beauty and also for of suitable books for small children. pleasure. 8) The main idea is to change the attitude It is the duty of the whole society, of the teachers and students of Bhutan especially the publishing circles, to promote from reading to pass exams to reading for the reading habits of youngsters, for the pleasures. production of books is the basis of all reading activities.Therefore publishing good Through the meeting with teachers in my books for youngsters naturally becomes the school,I will explain the activities conducted major and common measure for the publishing in Japan for promotion of reading habits in houses in promoting reading habits. children.As soon asIreceive the books and Since China has been carrying out the the other materials,Iwill demonstrate the open policy and the reform, our publishing various activities to my colleagues. cause has developed rapidly for the past ten As in the present we don't have a years.The number of publishing houses has permanent librarian in our schools,Iwill increased from less than 200 in 1979 to more suggest different activities that can be than 500 in 1988.The books published has conducted by the class teacher during the increased from 18,000 titles to 65,000 titles, library periods. Iwill show them some and 6.225 billion books were sold in the last practical examples. year.The production of children's books has Each class should at least have 1 period developed even more rapidly.In 1978, there of library per day. Iwill make the teacher were only a few publishing houses which trainees to do a survey on the reading habits especially publish children's bot ks.Now of some children or teacher.During their they have increased to 28.Last year the art and craft periodIwill instruct them how children's books published by these houses to make materials for reading or telling were more than 3300 titles with 251 million stories with cards, charts, etc. copies, nearly ten times as those in 1978. Iwill request the District Educational These figures didn't include those published Officer to call a meeting of the village by 128 children's newspapersnd magazines heads to tell them the importance of literacy and 140 other publishing houses.Some activities for their children; and to excellent children's hooks, for instance, One encourage them to buy good books for their Hundred Thousand V hys, has been sold more children to read.She could even encourage than ten million sets since it came out in some of the educated parents to open l3unkos the 1960s.Others such as Tales Told at 365 in their houses.She should at least urge Nights, Encyclopaedia for Youngster, A one person to open a book shop and a library Series of Little Libraries, Picture-story Books in my town. of the World's Famous Children's Literature,
40 3 7 are all best sellers.The last one has opening to the outside world, the people's recently won the prize of State Prize for living standard has been improved rapidly in Excellent Books. recent years.The juvenile readers have The People's Literature Publishing House, manifold needs for books.Not only the where I work, is one of the largest state content must be good and interesting, but publishing houses in China.Since its the binding and layout should also be founding in 1951, the publishing house has exquisite, and printing superior, and some published nearly 8 thousand titles with more books, pocketable.To meet the new needs than 6 hundred million copies of all kinds of of juvenile rciers, we elaborately compiled literary works.Most of them are novels, and edited a set of Selected Foreign Lyrics. poetry, prose, children's stories and literary It consists of twelve anthologies in total, biographies, and the readers are mainly containing the works of the most famous youngsters.It can be said, in this sense, thrity-two foreign poets.The lyrics are all that the People's Literature Publishing House masterpieces and in various styles. In functions principally for young readers. In designing and binding, we used 64 mo, with a the whole process of book production, we plastic coating, on which printed famous always pay great attention to their needs, foreign paintings.They look elegant and and try our best to promote their reading striking.They were warmly received by the habits by providing them with worthy, useful young people as soon as they came out. and interesting reading materials, help them More than 150,000 sets have been sold for to know life and society, and what we have two years.It should be regarded as a provided them has a good influence in their success especially under the present mental and moral development.In nearly circumstances in China when ordinary poetry forty years we have published a large anthology can only be sold one or two quantity of literary works suitable for young thousand copies.The reason lies in that people.Some excellent ones written by they satisfy the young people's multiple modern Chinese writers such as The Song of needs for knowledge, for beautiful and Youth, Tracks in the Snowy Forest, Defend practical things.Besides, we have also Yan'ani, etc., have been printed for many published A Series of Masterpieces for times and each edition with more than one juvenile readers.Each set consists of ten million copies in total.The famous Chinese books, the sixty set is now in print.The classics collated and published by us, Dream works contained are mainly stories and of the Red Chamber, All Men Are Brothers, fairytales, all masterpieces at all times and Pilgrimage to the West, Romance of the from all countries.When first published the Three Kingdoms, are always the favourites of prices of these books were low in order that young readers.They are reprinted nearly the juv,nile could afford them.But contrary every year.The total impression of each to our expectations, they were not well novel has reached several million copies. received by readers.The main reason was It's no boast to say, that every literate lacking of characteristics in designing and Chinese youth has read these books.Efforts binding, and the book was too big to carry are also made in translating foreign about.After making some improvements, now literature.We have many competent editors, the sales have begun to go up. some of them are excellent translators.So We also pay attention to the needs of the quality of translations is guaranteed. young children.Many stories and tales by The variety and quantity are also huge. In Andersen or Grimms are suitable to them, these respects few of the publishing houses but the prevalent translations are rather in China can compare with us.In our difficult for them, and not in pure oral library of foreign literature, the juvenile Chinese.In order to solve this problem, to literature has a prominent place.Most of adapt those 'tories so that the,reschool the foreign juvenile classics have been children can easily understand.This work is translated and published by us.Beside the now underway. collected works, we have published many According to our experience, itis well-selected works for the juvenile readers, necessary to know juvenile readers' interests such as The Arabian Nights, Hundred Tales and their demands for books before making a by Grimms, Selected Tales arid Stories by publishing plan.We often send editors to Andersen, and so on.They arc always schools to hold talks with young students and welcomed by juvenile readers and printed pupils.We also organize editors to sell many times. books in book fair to make direct contact With the deep going of reform and with the young readers.We owe some of
3 8 41 those successful cases in our publications to Afterwards we made an improvement. We the above said efforts. published the questions on Stories and Tales, In recent years, as a result of the and asked the participants to mail the development of book production, there is an answers back within a definite time.Then upsurge of reading activities among the the papers were marked, and the prize Chinese youngsters.The government adopts winners were selected.The awards were many methods to promote their reading also books, such as The collected Works of habits, such as a special subsidy to help Shakespeare, The Complete Works of Lu Xun, some publishing houses to select and and so on.This time the number of recommend good books for children, and a participants increased to nearly ten fund of one million yuan (Renminbi) to thousand, most of them were young people, provide awards for good children's books. from all parts of China.The questions we Competitions about literature, history, asked were two hundred, and each contained current affairs and so on are frequently held several minor questions,. all of them amounted by state and provincial TV stations. Many to about one thousand, covering nearly all organizations are also active in promoting the famous writers and their works, ancient reading habits.Under their sponsorship a lot and modern, Chinese and foreign.In order of reading clubs have sprung up.In these to correctly answer these questions, we activities the publishing house:: are always suppose, the participants must read more the active participants, and our publishing than two hundred books.This activity house is one of them. proved to be successful because it satisfied We often conduct various activities to the young people's craving for knowledge, promote reading habits through the honour and contest.In this way the periodicals published by us.Among those, a participants have a systematic reading, and weekly Stories and Tales is often used for the books they read are much more than this purpose.Five years ago, under the they do leisurely and aimlessly at ordinary suggestion of former editor-in-chief and times. famous woman writer Wei Junyi it came out. Recently we organize another activity of Its first and foremost purpose is to spread promoting reading habits: training course on literary knowledge and promote young improving writing skills.The participants are people's reading habits.Thus the basic all young amateur writers.We provide them editorial method has been decided: selecting with a booklist and some books for intensive representative works of short story writers reading.Hoping this will help them to or adapting famous novels suitable for young improve their writing skills, they read those people into vivid short stories.If these books carefully and thoroughly.Though in stories could arouse the readers' interests, quantity it can not be compared with that of they might probably want to read the competition, the quality of reading is original books.At the same time, We superior.Ve intend to continue these provide them with a lot of news and reviews activities. of newly-published books, in helping them to The major problems we face in promoting make choice of books.This weekly is reading habits are as follows: welcomed by young people all over the country.It has an impression of several I. We are lack of creations for children. In hundred thousand copies each number.Based the past we had many active and competent on this weekly we organize many lectures on writers who devoted to children's literature various literary topics, salons for writers and and created a lot of masterpieces which are readers, prize competitions about literary still the favorites of Chinese children.But knowledge, etc.We find that prize now those writers are either too old or died, competition is the most direct and most and there is lack of successors to carry on effective way in promoting young people's their cause. reading habits.At first we adopted the prevalent form: set the scope of competition, 2.In recent years, China's publishing cause held salon and answered the questions on the has made a rapid progress.But it became spot.After many preliminary competitions, out of control owing to overdevelopment. the winners took part in the finals, then Some publishers and individual booksellers televised the final scene.This method diverted their social responsibility, and created a sensation.But it was limited in making use of youth's curiosity, published number of participants, and only Beijing some pornographic and violent books to make readers had the chance to take part in. money.Thus some young people's interest in
42 3 9 reading was diverted.They were injured problems. physically and affected mentally.The Since the production of books is the basis impression of classics and other serious, of all reading activities, as editors of the worthy books dropped sharply.Some of them publishing houses, we shall try our best to only printed several hundred copies.In a selec and publish good books for the young sharp contrast to this, the pornographic and people.According to our ex-)erience, it is violent books with coarse binding, bad necessary to know young readers' interests printing and a great many of misprints, and their demands for books before making a usually had an enormous sale.Some of the publishing plan.So we shall insist on going juvenile culprits confessed that their crimes to schools to hold talks with pupils and were out of imitation after reading or seeing young students or sellir,, books in book fairs pornographic and violent publications.This or doing other things to keep contact with problem had aroused the attention of the young readers.We have already government and the society, and some commissioned some writers who are experts measures have been taken to clear away in children's language to adapt some famous those harmful publications.As a result of children's books so that the preschool these measures, the impression of classics children can easily understand.This is an and other worthy, useful books begin to go important work in promotion of reading. We up.This will help us to publish more good shall persist inthis respect and make it a books for the young people. major task in our future work. We have found that prize competition 3. The public libraries have not enough about knowledge is direct and very effective money to buy new books.China now has means in promotion of reading.In this way 2485 public libraries above country level with the participants will have a systematic 280 million books.It is a great development reading and can read more books than they in comparison with 55 public libraries in the do leisurely and aimlessly at ordinary times. early fifties.These libraries play an And the training course on improving writing important role in promoting reading habits. skills is also a good method for promoting In recent years the prices of books and reading.We shall continue these activities other publications have been going up and intend to expand the scope and increase continuously, but the funds given to public the prizes so as to attract more libraries haven't increased correspondingly. participants. The libraries have to reduce the numl'er of A special subsidy is given by the new books at a rate of more than on- government every year to help some million copies every year.A lot cr w publishing houses to select and distribute books can not be seen on libraries' .elves. good books to school children.And a fund This is unfavourable for the promotion of of one million RMB yuan is also given by the young people's reading habits. government to provide awards for excellent children's books.But they have not yet won 4. The printing technology needs to be much successes in promoting the creation of improved. NONA many publishing houses use children's literature.In China there is a computers and laser in typesetting and tendency among writers to look on children's platemaking, but itis still in experimental literature as a low level creation.The stage.Most books are still stereotyped with talented writers don't satisfy themselves with a long printing period.This can not meets writing for children.I would like to suggest the needs of the readers. my government to upgrade its award for children's books, making it the highest PLAN OF ACTIONS FOR PROMOTING national award for books, at the same time READING HABITS IN CHINA raising a strong public opinion through the mass media to highly estimate the importance Since China began its reform and opening of children's literature so as to attract more to the outside world, our publishing cause talented writers and illustrators to create has developed rapidly for the past ten years. for children.And the editors and publishers As a result there is an upsurge of reading should also be awarded if they produce good activities among the Chinese youngsters. But books. there still are some obstacles to overcome Our educational system is highly and some new problems to solve.Our future competitive and examination-orientated.The action plans for promoting reading habits are teachers and parents do not encourage their mainly based on the solutions of these children to read anything other than text-
4 0 43 books.Our children are busy with their LITERACY VS PROMOTION OF READING lessons and homeworks, having not time to HABITS develop a general reading habits. Ishall try to make contact with the Educational If we subscribe to the Declaration of Committee of the National People's Congress Persepolis (1976) that Literac-, is a o explain the situation unfavourable tothe fundamental human right that contributes to promotion of reading and to urge them to human liberation and full development, then adopt some measures to improve our promotion of reading habits follow and educational system.So our children could assumes significance and importance. have an all-round development both in The Expert Team on Evaluation of knowledge and personality. Experimental Literacy Projects (UNESCO/ In recent years the prices of books and UNDP 1976) said: "For Literacy to be other publications have been going up effective and lasting, it must be sustained by continuously, but the funds given to public an infrastructure that not only provides libraries have not increased correspondingly. literates with abundant reading matter but The libraries have to reduce the number of also maintains their taste for reading and new books at a rate of more than one broadens their horizon". million copies every year.The school Therefore promotion of reading habits libraries' situation is even worse than the among people and production of good books public libraries.Beside lack of funds, they are essential for the growth of a society and still have another problem: the low its people.It would also help to: qualification of librarians.Most of them reinforce literacy acquired by neo-literates haven't got any professional training, not and others by providing reading materials; knowing how to manage a library and how to encourage creation of an environment that help pupils in making choice of books.So enables individuals to act effectively as two measures are urgently needed to improve literates in daily life and to react the unfavourable situation.One is to critically to their understanding of reality. increase the funds for new books to public and school libraries to make more hooks MAGNITUDE OF THE PROBLEM available to young readers.The other is to organize training courses for school librarians Since literacy, and especially living to raise their professional ability.These are literacy, has much to do with reading what Iintend to suggest to my government. materials, promotion of reading habits/books During this training course in Japan, cannot be thought of in isolation from the Bunko has given me a deep impression.It is prevailing literacy situation in a country. the symbol of love and responsibility of the Japanese people for their children. Ishall (a) Vast numbers to be covered write articles to introduce Bunko to Chinese The total population of India according to parents and try to put it into practice.Of 1981 census was 685 million.It has since course, it will not be the exact form of increased to 803 million in 1988 and is Bunko, because in China especially in urban expected to go up to 965 million by 2000 AD. districts, every young mother has work.The The percentage of literacy including 0-4 family libraries could be run by retired age group as per 1981 census was 36.27 - teachers or other people who have time and 46.89 for men and 24.82 for women. are willing to promote reading habitsof During the last eighty years both children.By this means our children will population and literacy have been increasing. have more chances to read. In 1901 literacy was only 5.35 per cent and by 1971 it came to 29.45 per cent and registered as 7 per cent increase during the decade 1971-1981. India But one of the paradoxes in the Indian literacy situation is that while percentage of PROMOTION OF READING HABITS IN literacy has been increasing every decade the INDIA: PROGRAMMES AND PROSPECTS total number of illiterates has also been increasing. by G. Sivaswainy Literates Illiterates Directorate of Adult 1971 156.4 million 372.1 million Education 1981 237.9 million 419.9 million
44 4' (b) Multi-religious Society Languages as well as in English, in well- Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, defined series.The Trust organizes book Buddhists, Jains and Parsis constitute the fairs at national and regional levels and holds Indian Society with Hindus forming the seminars and symposia on various aspects of majority community. book-writing.It participates in Book Exhibitions held abroad. (c) Multi-lingual Society The Trust has been exploring possibilities India is a land of myraid dialects.There of producing enjoyable and instructive books are 15 officially recognised languages.As in all Indian languages on an unprecedented many as 1652 dialects/languages are mother scale in order to sustain the acceleration of tongues of different sections of population. the processes of formal, non-formal and continuing education for all age-groups POLITICAL WILL AND EMERGING SITUATION envisaged in the New Education Policy. The National Policy of Education 1986 Books for Rural Readers talks about education as that which liberates In recent years, the NBT has been - from ignorance and oppression.It also "reparing itself to launch an ambitious advocates the need for continuous upgradation programme to reach millions of rural readers of skills so as to produce manpower resources with limited reading abilities.Besides of the kind and number required by society. conducting surveys for sharpening the The National Policy has resolved that: "A understanding of their needs, workshops have vast programme of adult and continuing been organized in rural areas, with the education will be implemented through various participation of local people, to produce ways and channels, including: relevant books for neo-literates in the idiom familiar to them. (a) establishment of centres in rural areas for continuing educations; (b)Establishment of a network of Jana (h) wide promotion of books, libraries and Shikshan Nilayams reading rooms. Literacy received special attention during last ten years in India.But low levels of The programme of action unequivocally literacy prevail among persons made literate states 'continuing education' as an in these programmes because of scarcity of indispensable aspect of the strategy of human opportunities for continuing education and resource development and the g.)al of creation access to information. of a learning society. Continuing education includes post-literacy The establishment of Jana Shikshan for neo-literates and school drop-outs for Nilayams as centres in rural areas for retention of literacy skills, continuation of providing facilities for continuing education; learning beyond elementary literacy, and wider promotion of books; libraries and application of this learning for improving reading rooms; programmes of distance their living conditions. learning; assistance to self-learning etc. have Establishment of Jana Shikshan Nilayams all started taking shape.In all these itis (JSNs) is to be undertaken for clusters of implied that the reading habits of learners villages, the total population of which may be ane ;eneral public as such would be promoted about 5000.JSNs would be integrated with in a big way because without reading and programme of adult education and non-formal writing, discussing and talking, we are not education and will be housed in the school going to achieve the goals and lay buildings, Panchayat Ghars etc.JSNs would foundations for a learning society. provide facilities of library, reading room, discussion group, cultural activities andmay IMPORTANT PROGRAMMES FOR PROMOTION also include community TV etc. OF READING HABITS/BOOKS: To meet the JSNs needs for good books, vast amount of carefully prepared reading (a)The National Book Trust material would be required.Several Set up in 1957, the Trust is an organizations including the National Book autonomous organization with the objectives Trust are working in this direction. of producing and encouraging production of So far 14,000 JSNs have been established good reading material at moderate prices and in India and has helped in retention and fostering book-mindedness among the people. improvement of literacy skills among the The Trust has been producing books in Indian people.There has been a growing demand
42 45 for more and more reading materials including for different types of books for children, newspapers and magazines from the JSNs. neo-literates All this goes to indicate the promotion of Institution of awards for innovative reading habits in these areas. materials/neo-literate materials - Use of 'Talking Books'for visually PLAN OF ACTIONS FOR PROMOTING handicapped READING HABITS IN INDIA - Special booksfor tribal communities The action plan envisages broadly: It is in fact a continuous process and involvement of all sections of book-makers is - Motivational measures required.It is therefore better to set-up a - Action for improving quality Nodal Agency for undertaking and - Promotional aspects coordinating all these different activities at - Guidance and support system, and the national level. - Reduction in cost Another important aspect of book In order to creat awareness among people promotion is the need for wider dissemination motivation of different influential sections of of information.The promotional measures the community is essential.In case of would mainly depend on: promotion of reading habits and books Libraries following groups can help the cause - Mass media utilization immensely: Awards and competitions Parents and especially mothers - Organization of book fairs, studycircles Teachers and the like Religious leaders/institutions - Newspapers etc. Libraries can do a lot.Setting-up of home libraries with donates and used books, Unless and until the parents and teachers rural libraries, reading room facilities etc. are fully convinced of the needs of reading are envisaged.Citizens councils and they may not actively participate in voluntary participation of people can help promoting reading among the children. make reading a peoples movement. So is the case with religious leaders and Every activity needs guidance and support the printed media.They can influence the from Government/Nodal Agency. It can be by reading habits of neo-literates by providing way of guidelines or standards for different suitable opportunities and catering to their activities, translation norms etc. special needs.For example, newspapers in rural areas can run special columns for neo- Training becomes more vital in the literates.This has been tried and found context of improving materials.All those very useful. engaged in book production, from writers and illustrators down to the editor and printer How to improve the quality of materials need to be oriented towards Better Books at to make them attractive, readable, rich in lesser cost. Because a Good Book at a contents, relevant and useful from the point higher cost cannot achieve much.But a of view of the clientele is a very important Good Book within the reach of the masses aspect of promoting reading. can promote reading. Cost can be reduced by mass production and up-gradation of printing This will involve several steps technology. simultaneously including: Survey of reading materials Last but not the least is the need for a Research into reading habits decentralized distribution network which is - Participatory methods for preparation of emphasized in this plan.This is only a materials broad framework within which one can - Special materials to meet felt needs visualize the areas that need further Workshops, seminars, symposia with writers, strengthening for concerted action. In editors etc. several cases the basic structure has already - New materials to be developed like picture been established like the National Book Trust plays for children as Nodal Agency etc. Organization of a series of competitions
46 4 3 What will be required is to accelerate the reading society pace of progress towards achievement of the b.to promote library services goal of a reading and learning society. c.to create a well-informed nation, ready to particit ite in all sectors of national development. Indonesia III. SCOPE OF ACTIVITIES INTEGRATED PROGRAMME ON READING ANIMATION IN INDONESIA The reading animation programmes consist IN 1989 of the following 'activities: 1.Library and reading habit promotion 2. Book donation campaign 3.Library contest byMudjito 4. Reading contest Centre for Library 5. Acceleration of mobile library services Development 6. Choice of model librarians 7. Conducting research on reading habits I.RATIONALE 8.Developing reading habits at schools.
In modern world, information plays a very IV. PROJECT DESCRIPTION important role in the life and living of the human being.It has become a necessary 1.Library and reading habit promotion condition to achieve any endeavour in The promotion campaign is aimed to political, social, economical and cultural persuade the society to participate with the field.Particularly in developing countries, program activities actively.The campaign the most effective and popular way to will be conducted in the forms of: access to information is still and remains a. development and distribution of brochures through reading.It is therefore a matter of and other circular papers all over the high priority and urgency that in those country countries the people should be motivated to b. banners and posters in provincial capitals read.Reading animation programmes c.library film shows therefore should year by year continuously d.press release and press conferences exercised in order, sooner or later, to e.library/book exhibitions replace the traditional oral way to access to f.seminars and library users' train ings information by the habits of reading.But of g. announcements via mass media etc. course the programmes will arouse the need of books.Books should be made available 2. Book donation campaign for people, however, the general socio- One of the obstacles faced by libraries in econom ica 1 conditions of the national do not Indonesia is the limited budget sources to afford that everyone can buy the books he develop their book collection.Since 1987 needs.T' ? only solution is the library. In the Centre for Library Development assisted a developing country a library is not only an by the 26 Provincial Libraries have been agent to organize and administer books and launching a campaign to collect books from similar material for reading, consultation and the society to be distributed to potential study, but it has become more an institution village libraries. to develop the intellectual condition and By this campaign the Centre succeeded to proficiency of the nation.To get people donate to 2 x 54 = 108 village libraries with come in the libraries to read is one of the 1000 copies each.The campaign of this regular and most important job of the year has been running from early April and library.For this purpose every year the has been terminated at the end of May Centre for Library Development launches 1989. reading animation programmes on national scale. 3.Library contest The main objective of this program is to I LOBJECT IVES encourage better library services in order to accelerate reading interest and reading The programmes are aimed: habits of the society.It is also aimed to a.to animate the people's reading interest make the society more acquinted with and habits in order to achieve a better libraries.Some kinds of awards are prepared
44 47 for the best selected libraries, including the are prepared for the best selected librarians invitation to the librarians concerned to from all kinds of libraries in national as well participate with the national proclamation as provincial level.The winners from day ceremonies on August 17, 1989 in provincial level then were selected to be the Jakarta.The contest of 1989 has been winners of the national level.Trophies and planned to be focussed on school libraries. awards were presented to the model librarians at the national level by the 4. Reading contest Minister of Education and Culture and the Like what has been done in the last three Minister of Home Affairs at the national previous years, the reading contest of 1989 proclamation day on August 17, 1989 in is designed to be exercised in cooperation Jakarta. with the National Women Congress.The programme is a national one, covering all 27 7. Conducting research on reading habits provinces of the country.Itis aimed to Reading habits and reading interest have accelerate reading habits among women and important roles in developing personality, the young generation by the use of libraries. improving knowledge and skills, and fulfilling Women and the young generation are leisure times.Therefore, the Centre for considered as potential groups in the nation Library Development also conducts research building.The contestants are divided in 3 on reading habits and reading interest.The groups, namely the group representing women objective of the research mainly to identify organizations, women individuals and youth the development of reading habits and individuals, with secondary school educational reading interest in order to improve library basis.The contest material is a number of collection and library services to societies. books on science and fiction, selected by the Scope of research includes readers from all national committee.Copies of these selected level (pupils, students, readers in all types books are made available in the Provincial of libraries), libraries, publishers, bookstores, Library in each of the 27 provinces.The teachers, and social organizations.Site of contest participants are required to develop research mainly in Jakarta and in Lampung. and deliver some books abstracts and to Jakarta is the representative for Java island, answer questions on books.Trophies and and Lampung is the representative for out of awards are given to the winners at Java island. provincial and national level.The real contest has been commencing in June and 8.Developing reading habits at schools will be terminated with the celebration of Developing reading habits for young the National Women's Day on December 22, people at schools is a must.Therefore some 1989. activities have been carried out to develop readinf, habits at schools. Some of them are: 5. Acceleration of mobile library services a. Conuucting story telling The Eeographical condition of the country h.Providing reading assignment as an archipelago and the uneven population c.Assigning writing abstract spreading are the most outstanding d.Motivating writing wall magazines constraints to be faced in the efforts to e. Conducting reading contest establish a nation-wide system of library f.Encouraging magazine publication services.There are about 68,000 villages in g.Carrying out book exhibitions related to the country and it would be very unefficient celebration of the National and Religious and expensive to build a library in each of Days the villages.Experiments with mobile h.Assigning pupils to help teacher librarians libraries have proven to he the most i.Conducting reading program effective solution.This year about 200 j.Guiding reading techniques mobile libraries has been in operation to strengthen and accelerate reading animation It is hoped that by developing reading programmes in the provinces. habits at schools, a reading society will be formed in the longrun. 6. Choice of model librarians Like library contest, the main objective V. OPERATIONAL AGENCIES of this program is to encourage librarians to improve their services in order to accelerate The Centre for Library Development reading interest and reading habits of the functions as Headquarter of the program society.Some kind of trophies and awards implementation.All program activities are
48 45 designed, monitored and evaluated in the of program activities, development of Centre.Provincial Libraries in the Provinces brochures, book acquisition, forming of are the program operational units, committees etc. have been done during subordinated to the Centre.Especially for the month of May 1989, while the contest the implementation of the reading contest, a has been exercised in June and July 1989 joint Central Committee is formed between at provincial level, and in August/ the Centre and National Women Congress. In September 1989 at national level.This the provinces local committees are formed sub program will be closed on December involving the Provincial Library, Local 22, 1989. Government, Provincial Off ice of Education and Women Organizations. e. Acceleration of mobile library services A special program is being formulated to VI. TIME OF OPERATION accelerate mobile library services all over the country and has been exercised from The integrated program on reading July till the end of the year. animation is a-year-program of 1989 and is designed to be performed all the year.Some f.Choice of model librarians activities have been exercised simultaneously. The choice of model librarians at the national level is the first time held in a.Library and reading promotion has been Indonesia.It has been carried out since starting from April 1989 and will continue April 1989 and has been lasted by August all the year. This sub-program concludes 20, 1989.There were three Model the following activities: Librarians chosen at the national level: 1) development of terms of references of all Mr. Poedjo Adi Martoto, Ms. Zurniaty, sub projects and Mrs. Wiltje W. Sayangbati Dengah. 2) development of promotion instruments, such as: g.Conducting research on reading habits announcements The research on reading habits has been - brochures going on since April 1989.Right now the - posters result of research is still being processed. - banners It will be terminated by the end of - video films December 1989.After processing the radio and television programmes data, the team of research will write the - circulars result of research.Itis hoped that by February 1990, the writing of research's 3) forming of committees and operational result will be accomplished. agencies 4) seminars programmes h.Developing reading habits at schools 5) library users training programmes The development of reading habits at 6) criterias for the several contests schools will take place all year around, 7) book exhibition usually from July 1989 and will be terminated on June 1990.This activity is b.Books donation carried out by all levels of schools, from The campaign for book donation is now in primary school levels to senior high run and has been terminated by school levels. August/September 1989. VII. PROBLEMS AND PRACTICAL c. The library contest SOUTIONS The contest is designed to evaluate public school libraries, involving, elementary and 1.Major obstacles faced in promotion of secondary schools.Commencing in April reading habits in Indonesia: 1989 this sub program has been finished by August. a.Book production in Indonesia is low.It is approximately 3,000 titles a year. d.Reading contest b.Lack of budget to purchase books and As mentioned before the reading contest other reading materials. has been exercised in cooperation with c.Lack of skill to read foreign books, thenational women congress.Preparation particularly English books because of lack work such as: announcements, formulation of English proficiency.
46 49 d. Some Indonesian society still depend their A. LIBRARIES AND THEIR ACTIVITIES: information on visual and oral information rather than written information. I.Libraries of the institute for the e. Television, video as well as radio program Intellectual Development of Children and are more favorable than printed Young Adults materials. f.There is a tendency of information These libraries were first established 25 illiteracy. years ago, and have ever since been oneof the most successful institutions in developing 2. The most effective solutions to promote and promoting reading habits among children reading habits through multidimension and youth.These libraries combine the activities are: library environment with artistic and cultural activities.There are now about 250 such a.Promoting reading habits as a national libraries and cultural centres located in movement toward the realization of various cities of Iran and are supplemented culturalizing a reading society. by mobile libraries and postal services in b. Promoting reading habits through parents, order to reach the children in rural areas. particularly mothers. Among programmes supervised by librarians c.Promoting reading habits through are: story telling, introducing books, integrated program at schools, unversities, discussion on books and other subjects, offices, as well as non formal education preparation of posters and wall displays, and social organization as mentioned at instructional pastime and competitions, film point IV, number 1-8. presentations, etc.Specialized instructors also help putting up drama (by the children), VIII.CONCLUSION holding classes for film-making, classes for creative writing, art programmes, etc. This integrated program on reading Artistic works of the members have won animation has been carried out in Indonesia prizes in various international exhibitions. since 1986,11987 under the leadership of the The libraries bustle with life and are busy Centre for Library Development. centres of cultural and educational Itis expected that this program will be activities.Despite the cut in budget and improved gradually to reach the best result other difficulties resulting from the imposed and to achieve its objectives. war, they operate smoothly and compensate to a large extent for the lack of good school libraries in Iran. Imust mention here that the Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults ACTIVITIES RELATING TO READING also acts as publisher of books for various HABITS AND PROBLEMS IN IRAN age groups and has been one of the most successful in this field.It also helps the development and growth of children and by Shirin Taavoni young adults literature through encouraging National Library of Iran the writers, artists, and publishers that are active in this field. I.PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES RELATING TO READING HABITS: 2.School Libraries The main projects and activities relating There are around 76,000 schools in Iran to the promotion of reading habits in Iran and all of them arc sponsored by the are mainly sponsored by various libraries. Ministry of Education.According to the There are some other institutions - govern- organizational chart of each school, a library mental or private-dealing with the promotion collection should exist in every schoolhouse. of books and, indirectly, reading habits too. However, due to various difficulties, most of However, there is no one organization that these schools do not possess a real library is solely responsible for this job, and many and when they do, the library is not used by organizations that do concern themselves students as it should he.The main with promotion of reading habits, do this as drawbacks with relation to these libraries a secondary or side-work. are: lack of professional and non professional personnel, budget shortage, shortage of space
50 4 7 and facilities, lack of coordination between Ministry of Culture and Guidance.These the educational programmes and library libraries enjoy an adequate budget and own systems, unidimensional book selection, and collections ranging between 5,000 and 50,000 the like. volumes.The libraries are usually housed in a building specially built for them, and 3. The Reconstruction Corps attract users mainly among. students and the (JAHADE SAZANDEGI) Libraries elderly.Book selection and processing activities are done in the central office in In 1979, the year of the victory of the Tehran, and the processed books are sent ;:o Islamic Revolution, groups of enthusiastic the libraries.Reading rooms are usually volunteers mainly young people called the full, but a recent study shows that most Reconstruction Corps, went out to villages users come to the library to study their own and rural areas in order to help the books or textbooks.Library services reconstruction of these areas and to improve sometimes include book exhibitions and the agricultural conditions.At the same booklists; some of the libraries have a time many of them started small libraries special collection for children too. with small collections of books in some public building, usually the village mosque. 6.Hosseinieh Ershad Public Library Thus there are now 2,500 such libraries in 2,500 villages of Iran (out of a total village This library started as a privately run number of 65,000).These libraries which religious library ten years ago.It has now evolved out the people's interest and effort developed into one of the best and most have compensated for the lack of government successful public libraries of Iran and has public libraries in rural areas, and have been had an important role in developing reading one of the main sources for the promotion of activities.It has an attractive building that books and reading habits in deprived areas. was extended recently, and enjoys an ample Two years ago when the Reconstruction and independent budget which enables it to Corps became a Ministry, the small budget of have a very well-rounded and up-to-date these libraries were cut.However, the collection.Two years ago the library libraries still function on the basis people's developed a children's section which attracts donations and voluntary librarians' a host of children who come to read, paint, innovations, and are quite successful in and listen to stories, especially during providing the rural population with reading summertime.The library sponsors many materials. cultural activities, exhibitions, speeches, etc., which are the main factors attracting 4. The Mosque Libraries readers. After the victory of the Islamic 13. OTHER INSTITUTIONS AND Revolution, many book collections were ACTIVITIES: deposited in the mosques, which gradually turned into active libraries run by 1.Children's Book Council volunteers.The collections are mainly donated by people who go to the mosque, in the winter of 1962, the Children's and the users are mostly the younger people. Book Council was organized by an Some of these libraries have been very enthusiastic group of educators, authors, and successful in attracting the youth to books librarians.The Council's main aims include: and reading.However, since the libraries to encourage and give assistance to all are of a numerous quantity and are all run publishers, authors, and artists; to prepare on a trial-and-error basis, itis very difficult and publish better books for Iranian children; to pinpoint the reason for their success and to encourage Iranian authors and publishers failure, and cannot be considered as a to produce original Persian books derived systematic network unless comprehensive from our own culture and needs in order to study and planning is carried on. provide access to good books for all Iranian children, regardless of their social and 5.Public Libraries' Network geographic positions.These aims brought to life a bulletin, the first of its kind in the There are now nearly 500 public libraries country, which serves as a guide to different dispersed in different cities and towns of aspects of children's literature, especially in Iran which are sponsored and run by the the selection of books.The Council also
48 51 sponsors such programmes as discussion 5.Book Fairs and Exhibitions sessions, book exhibitions, international children's book day commemoration, An International Book Fair called Tehran publication of a list of suitable books for International Book Exhibition is held annually children, and a book of the year competition in Iran which includes books exhibited by to promote juvenile literature.In addition foreign publishers too.There is also another to this. the Council reviews and approves annual exhibition on the national level which translations of foreign works so that a high is held during the 10-day ceremonies of the standard of accuracy and fidelity has been victory of Islamic Revolution each year. In maintained.The Council has gradually this exhibition publishers offer their books at become a centre for research and technical a 10-20% discount rate to the public.Both work on children's literature in Iran.It exhibitions are very popular and well- reviews all books published for children up to received by the public.There also other 15 years of age, and from these selects the exhibitions related to books and reading best book of the year.Recently, it has which are held by different organs.One of started to produce a children's encyclopaedia the most recent and successful exhibitions in 30 volumes. was The First Exhibition of Illustrations of Books for Children.The exhibition was 2. The Mass Media welcomed by everyone especially by the children themselves; they crowded the Both the Radio and Television programmes exhibition area to see the original paintings dedicate special hours to the introduction of of their books, and used the painting new books to the public.Sometimes they facilities to make original pictures. introduce libraries and interview authors too. During special occasions such as the Book II.PROBLEMS IN PROMOTING READING Week or the International Book Day, the HABITS IN IRAN media devote special programmes to books and reading.Special programmes designed A. Oral Society for the entertainment of youngsters also help the promotion of reading and books through Iran, like many other oriental countries contests and competitions which require that are not technically developed, has been familiarity with major books. an oral society for generations.The printing industry was introduced to the country only 3. The Roshd periodicals 100 years ago, and before it could change the traditions, the radio and television The Center for Educational Aids and entered the scene.This caused a partial Libraries of the Ministry of Education lapse into oral traditions once more. publishes four different illustrated periodicals called Roshd (Growth) aimed at 4 age-levels B. Low Level of Literacy of children and young adults, as well as a special Roshed for teachers.The Roshd About 38.2% of population over 6 years series are very popular with children.The old still lack the ability to read and write. great success of this periodical can be Many of the so-called literate also lapse into attributed largely to the fact that the group illiteracy after they leave school. that works together on preparation of these materials is formed of writers, translators, C. Textbook-oriented Educational System and editors who have years of teaching experience and great belief in their work. The emphasis that is usually placed on text-books, homework, and curricular-based 4.Literary Prizes activities leave little time and need for reading.Outside readings are not part of The main literary prize in Iran is the the curricular requirements, and itis only Book of the Year Award which is offered through individual interested teachers that annually during the 10-day ceremonies of the many children become aware of the book victory of the Islamic Revolution to the best world and the joys of reading. books published each year in different subject fields.The Children's Book Council has awarded since 1963, the Selected Book of the Year Prize for different age levels. 49 52 D. Weakness of the Iranian Book Trade the blind in the national library, and Industry collecting all relevant materials G. Making public and school library standards Shortage of paper and other printing on the basis of my experience in Japan supplies, lack of good planning, and other complications caused by the imposed war, has 2) Improving the Book Industry through: been a great obstacle to the development of the book industry in Iran.However, this A. Proposal of the formation of various shortage has produced a greed for books associations among translators illustrators, among enthusiastic readers, and good books authors, etc. usually disappear from the bookshops,,K one B. Writing an article on the publishing or two months time. industry in Japan C. Outlining the activities of Kodansha E. Absence of Long-term Programmes for publishers Development of Libraries D. Introducing the idea of a general National Book Council responsible for The role of libraries in promoting books planning and developing the book industry and reading habits cannot be overemphasized. in Iran The scarcity of professional librarians is also E. Making a bibliography of good Asian a major impediment to the growth and children's books suitable for translation development of good and active libraries and into Persian the promotion of reading habits. F. Making a list of suitable Iranian folk tales for children to he translated into F. Absence of an Institution Solely other Asian languages Responsible for Promotion of Books and G. Trying to get Ms. Hiroko Sasaki's book: Reading Picture Books and Imagination (Ehon to Sozosei) translated into Persian At present, various organizations and Ministries concerned themselves with 3) Improving library services through: different aspects of book production and reading.As a result, overall planning, A. Introducing the idea of reading promotion pursuing, and evaluation is not possible. habits among children at zero age level to the Children's Book Council of Iran MY PLAN OF ACTIONS FOR B. Proposing the inclusion of a special hour PROMOTING READING HABITS IN IRAN dedicated to reading in the Iranian school curriculum The practical actions which Ishall take C. Proposing the development of a school when I go back to my country will be mainly library network in Iran through the National Library of Iran, as well D. Introducing the Tama city public library as through reports and articles whichIshall to Iranian librarians make to other relevant organs.These include: 4) Improving reading promotion activities: 1)Improving the role of National of Library A. Translating some of the participants' of Iran through: reports into Persian B. Producing a report to the National Library A. Emphasizing the importance of networking of Iran on the ACCU workshop on and centralized services. promotion of reading habits B. Outlining various problems and solutions C. Reading carefully all the materials of ferred through the workshop for distributed by the ACCU workshop in improving reading habits by means of order to draw a final conclusion and for national libraries future reference. C. Writing an article on the National Diet D. Introducing the drawbacks of the Japanese Library of Japan T.V. to the Iranian librarians and other D. Providing an inservice training course for concerned organs, and trying to avoid the school librarians same faults E. Making a survey of existing libraries for the blind in Iran F. Proposing the inclusion of a section for
50 53 5) Activities based on new ideas: Satistics based on Satistics based on Bibliography National Bibliography of Iran of Ministry of Culture & Guidance
A. Introducing the idea of Bunko libraries to No.of GeneralChildren's the Children's Book Council of Iran titles BooksBooks Total Year B. Introducing the NP method and utilizing 1983 2434 280 2722
it in some decision-making meetings at my 1984 3482 130 3612 6414 Circulation: 42,626,430 office and at other relevant occasions 1985 2.138 656 3094 5448 C. Introducing the idea of talking books as a Cir.: 41,224,150 1986 2209 322 2531 3812 media for promoting reading habits among Cir.: 28,111,800
illiterates 1987 2169 666 2835 4810 D. Distributing the materials produced by Cir.: 35,273,134 ACCU for eliminating adult illiteracy to the Ministry of Culture and Higher Education Subject Analysis of Book Production Based E. Introducing the idea of Kamishibai books on National Bibliography of Iran by writing an article and making a Year Kamishibai book No.of F. Introducing the Bunko Library in an titles 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 article for the Journal of the National Subject Library of Iran Generalities 45 54 52 79 57 C. Introducing the educational system of Philosophy 89 128 66 64 97 Japan to the relevant authorities Religion 577 731 412 522 443
Social Sciences 181 232 286 226 161
Iran Language 117 253 104 115 210
Science 107 202 170 130 147
PUBLISHING AND READING 7-e-cr T Faogy 347 514 :372 445 428 PROMOTION IN IRAN Art 117 204 166 133 86
Literature 524 848 610 268 370 by Fereshteh Kashefi Hist. & Geog. 321 316 198 227 170 Cultural Studies and Children's 280 130 656 322 666 Research Institute Total 2722 3612 3750 2531 2809 9 Iran is a vast country (1,645,000 km"); with an ever increasing population of Now, with these general remarks in mind 49,445,010; a rich cultural heritage; a and specially the volume of printed materials, significant illiteracy rate of 38.2%; a the second step is to introduce and evaluate distinctive difference between urban and rural organizations engaged in the promotion of areas regarding educational achievements and reading habits.Probably the most successful opportunities; a considerable ethnic and body in this field is "The Institute for the linguistic minority groups and, finally, a strong Intellectual Development of Children and national desire for learning. Young Adults" (Kanoon) established in 1965. To study reading habits inI ran one should This institute has founded a library network consider all these factors together with the for children throughoutthe country.The realities of book production and publishing 250 branch libraries of Kanoon now offer activities and related statistics.For example their services to Iranian children even in the the number of titles published per year is a remotest cities and townsThese libraries, or determining factor which according to the actually cultural centers are centers for Iranian National Bibliography varies between reading and enjoying or borrowing books and 2,500 and 3,700.Circulation of these books tapes.These libraries have attracted children normally flactuates between 3,000 and 10,000, and young adults through special story telling copies; not including exceptions and the great hours and exhibitions.In their working volume of school textbooks published by the groups children can learn how to paint, to Ministry of Education.The following tables write a story, to perform a play or to make can draw a picture of recent developments in toys and puppets.Children who have this field. participated in these activities have often been the winners of international contests in
54 different fields.Kanoon has also played a field of children's literature as well as other leading role in the publication of original publisherswho are publishing children's books books for children which have usually had an as part of their line.Cultural and Scientific outstanding quality and have specially Publications Company, Ministry of Culture and benefited from attractive illustrations. I ligher Education is one of these publishers Kanoon*also produces films, tapes and which has special collections and series for educational games. young adults. The other organization engaged in the promotion of reading is the Children's Book MY PLAN OF ACTIONS FOR Council of Iran (Showra) which began its PROMOTING READING HABITS IN MY activities in 1962.Through book exhibitions, COUNTRY publication of indexes of useful books for children and young adults, seminars and 1.The government is the main institution workshops, selection of the best children's which has the major role in promotion of book of the year and the best children's reading habits.It may play its role through author, translator and illustrator, the council the following policies and practices: has successfully awakened an awareness of the need for children's literature.In its capacity 1.1 To try to upgrade and develop the of the IBBY (International Board on Books for economic level of life so that leisure time Young People) representative in Iran, it is ready available for the families. publishes a quarterly periodical devoted to 1.2 To try to solve the illiteracy problem children's literature as well as news in the once and for ever and equip the related field.Showra also publishes regular lists of organizations with adequate budget and suitable books for children which is best personnel and educational materials and appreciated by teachers and parents. resources. The development of a reading habit based 1.3 To unite scattered organizations engaged on a love of reading may well be the most in the promotion of reading habits and important contribution the school can make to harmonize their activities through one the student's education.In this regard, many sponsoring body. schools have at least small collections of 1.4 To change the present state of teacher books and at most a greater collection and text book-oriented teaching at gathered in a room and called "The library". schools. Although some of these libraries are active 1.5 To encourage formation of professional and successful in attracting their users to associations like those of teachers, their collections and services, the librarians, authors and so on to improve establishment of a network of school libraries the productivity and creativity of related would be a time and resource consuming professionals. project.It needs an incredible amount of 1.6 To solve the problems concerning effort from policy making to budget allocating publishing such as paper shortage and and personnel training.The present hook regulations. collections available in many schools can act 1.7 To enforce the compulsory education for as a nuclei for such a school library system. children to prevent new additions into Finally, itis universally agreed that a illiterates. habit of voluntary reading will develop only within the limitations set by: 2. The second area to be considered is book 1) The reader's ability and interest production and distribution.In this stage it 2) The difficulty and attractiveness of the should be tried to: reading materials 2.1 Improve the book distribution system by Plans to improve the conditions of reading the help of publishers and transportation materials should consider so many different organizations to distribute books all over factors and obstacles mainly of economic the country including rural areas. origin and nature.Book production has 2.2 Help marketing sections of individual suffered a great deal due to paper shortage publishers to increase their sales. and lack of publishing equipment and supplies 2.3 Arrange seminars on the topic and try to in recent years. find implacable solutions for existing problejs. *It should he noted that besides Kanoon there 2.4 Increase the circulation of printed are a few small publishers specializing in the materials which will lead to a decrease in
5 2 55 price of single copies. 5. A triangle made of parents, teachers and 2.5 Improve the content and physical home can help the children to improve their characteristic of publications by the help reading habits from early childhood so it of economic aids to publishers and should be tried to: provision of necessary resourde,- like books and libraries for the \ .rs. 5.1 Encourage parents to assist parent- 2.6 Arrange literary contests between writer, . teacher associations to develop school illustrators, etc. libraries and their collections through 2.7 Organize book exhibitions in national, donations and practical actions. regional and school levels to introduce 5.2 Give awareness to the parents about their available books to the readers. important role in educating their children to read. 3. The libraries are the custodians of 5.3 Introduce the example of home libraries literary heritage and they can improve their in Japan and encourage interested parents services through the following programs. especially mothers to follow this example. 5.4 Ask parents and teachers to read more 3.1 To insist on the necessity of laws and and make good examples for their children regulations concerning establishment and and students. support of different kinds of libraries. 5.5 Ask teachers to give research work to 3.2 To encourage establishment of a network their students and make use of out of of school libraries to provide the students text book materials. with sufficient books and services. 3.3 To improve the existing situation of 6. The mass media can play their part in public libraries from qualitative and this campaign of promotion of reading habit quantitative points of view. by: 3.4 To cover rural areas with a network of public libraries and mobile libraries. 6.1 Writing articles on the importance of 3.5 To make use of the mosque libraries promotion of reading habits in newspapers either as part of the public library and other periodicals to help create the network or as supplementary social awareness. organizations. 6.2 Broadcasting special programs by T.V. and 3.6 To maintain centralized technical services radio concerning reading promotion and for the libraries through the national its necessity. library so that enough time is saved for 6.3 Publishing book-reviews with attractive public services in libraries. designs and contents to introduce readable 3.7 To support the national library to be able book to the public. to maintain its role as a mother library. 6.4 Introducing new publications in T.V., radio and periodicals. 4.Training and research should be widely considered for those engaged in promotion of reading habits. La Os 4.1 New methods and findings should be PROMOTING OF READING HABITS AND introduced to publishers, printers, editors, BOOK DEVELOPMENT IN LAOS teachers and librarians by the help of workshops and training courses. 4.2 Surveys and researches in the field of by Kongdeuane Nettavong reading habits should he carried in National Library universities and related research organizations. 4.3 Teachers should relieve a training to be Introduction able to serve as teacher- librarians in school libraries. Before speaking about reading promotion in 4.4 New courses should added to the library the Lao P.D.R.,Iwould like to stress on science students' curriculum to widen education because it relate.to the promotion their knowledge in this field. of reading.Before and at er the tot, 4.5 NI' method can be introduced in relevant libreration of the country in1975, our party courses and workshops. and Government's policies as regard the support and the participation of the
56 53 community for education is still unchanged. Each year, the reading promotion centre of The conception is: the national library will send its staff to Education is one of the main tasks of the guide the reading animation centres in the mass in the process of the national and region mentioned above.The staff will bring social revolution; with them books for the primary, secondary State and ;..--pulation should cooperate to and high school.They will also pursuade the maintain dr,: manage the national education teachers and librarians authorities to ask the system and to meet the increasing numbers students to cone and read at the libraries. of pupils entering the formal education Furthermore, the staff sent' by the national system as part of a long-standing library will give indication to the teachers importance people have attached to and librarians authorities of local schools education as an instrument of social concerning the creating lively reading and advancement and equality. creating a lively libraries. To promote national education in a better During the opening of the school year, the way, the party and government have given national library staff have to go to general a task to the national library in promoting education school in order to explain about the the reading habit of the mass particularly cooperation between teachers, students and of the young people.The national library librarians and to concentrate on reading books is authorized to set up libraries in primary during national important days.This method secondary schools and high schools will be useful for the teachers and students in throughout the country including the preparation of their lessons before passing to reading rooms for the young in every the next class. province. From 1975 up to the present time, the The staff of the national library will go to national library has carried out a task in various' schools in order to organize the simple establishing various activities in order to reading method to the pupils such as: reading promote reading habit of the young people animation techniques, animated reading, story in many respects.These various activities telling and puppetry. face a lot of difficulties and sometimes The national library staff will go and meet meet with success. and give suggestions to primary, kindergarten teachers concerning the method of proper I.Some experiences in the various activities reading of short poem, local stories which the in promotion reading in Lao P.D.R. from students used to hear from their parents and 1975-1984: the teachers have to retell again showing the correspcnding pictures. Since 1975 the Ministry of Education has This method will attract the attention of issued a decree allowing the national library the students and will lead the students to to set up centres for animating reading for enjoy book reading successfully: the young students throughout the country: Luangprabang in the rnrth, Vientiane in center 1.From 1975-1984 the young students were and Savannakhet in the south. able to read books written in French Each reading animation centre in each language, and the books for them are region has its objectives: many. 1) To promote and improve the school 2. The large majority of the books in school libraries for the young in the northern libraries are many those supplied by French part, central part and southern part. authorities during their education control. 2) To help and suggest how to procure books, 3. The government provided financial to help how to read, to give suggestion to facilities to the library staff to make an teachers and pupils how to use the inspection visit. libraries. 4.In 1989 the national library and a team of 3) To give suggestion to the pupils in reading VANNAS IN1 i MAGAZINE in close books, to explain the usefulness of the cooperation with the Japanese women books and to read tales to them. association of sending picture books to Lao 4) To ask them to come to the club and children set up reading promotion activities explain to them hbw to read books. project for the young children.This 3) To encourage the contribution of the project built a club for the young readers. parents association and the public to help The objectives of the project are to the young students. promote reading among the pupils, the students and to teach them how to look
5 4 57 for books, how to read the selected parts, Based on these statistics, the expansion of how to keep books in proper place, to general education for all grades were write books, how to summarize and note spectacular, and with the aim of the new down articles outside the class.This education strategies to realize the UEP up to association will invite its members of the year 2,000.The total enrollment of the about 30 to 40 from each school for primary grade will raise to 800,000.With competition in this field.At present the such increasing number of the students, the project has set up two clubs: one at problem of promotion of reading habits for the Naxaythong high school not far from the students must be solved by increasing the capital, the other at Sikhottabong high number of reading rooms in the schools, and school in the prefecture of Vientiane. reading promotion centre for all.First of all they must supply enough books for reading. In 1990 the national library will open a The most important problem is to suggest children reading room.The above mentioned the students of primary and secondary school project is running quite well and can be seen how to read book, how to look for the books, that itisin progress and contributed by the if there is no care for them, they will not young pupils.If this project is successful, it know how to use the libraries when they can be expanded to many parts throughoutthe attend the high education.It is a bitter country. lesson as we have seen in the past that the young students do not want to readbooks, II.Some unsuccessful cases in promoting because there is no promotion activities for reading habits: from 1984 up to the reading in the libraries when they were young present time ' and when they are grown up they are not used to reading in the libraries.Therefore Though we have carried out promotion of the problem we are facing and must be solved reading for a long time, instead of successful are the problem of book shortagefor the results, but we have a lot of difficulties and young children.For Lao P.D.R., the some of our activities have to be cancelled publication of book for the young is very because the promotion of reading habits in little.The publication is very expensive, various parts throughout the country faces a particularly with colors. lot of difficulties since 1984 up to now. The Speaking about the printing of books in young students who began their study since the past 15 years in Lao P.D.R., the majority 1975 cannot read foreign language, particularly of books printed are text books for the French language with comprehension, because primary, secondary and high school students as since then the national education is taught in indicated below:From 1988 to 1989, there Lao language.The books produced for are 436,943 copies printed for theprimary teachers in various schools are written in school students. French. Therefore books written in Lao must In the same period there are 126,861 copies be provided, but itis limited.The young for the secondary school students, and 77.491 children have not enough books for reading. copies for the high school students.The books printed for the purpose of illiminating III.The most serious problems we face in illiteracy are 74.300 copies. promoting reading habits: The payment for the book printing is contributed by the government and Unesco. I would like to point out the increasing Other kind of books are printed in limited figure of general education.The table below number.There are only a small number of shows the development of the general titles printed in addition to the above education by grade for the period 1975-1988. numbers. The soviet union helps publish 20 titles of A. Primary (ages 6 -10) 1975/76 1980-81 1987/88 books for children.Also there are other - Number of school 4,444 6,339 8,716 books such as books on Japanese short stories, - Enrolment 317,236 449,291 558,852 Japanese economic policy, Lao oral stories, - Teachers 11,848 16,109 20,384 etc. which will come out next year.There Lower Secondary (age 11 -13) B. exist some writers for the young people. - Number of school 72 350 629 They have written many stories and published - Enrolment 26,628 63,982 88,973 1,101 2,913 0,942 through Vannasinh magazine, but since the Teachers budget is limited and the cost of printing is C. Upper Secondary - Number of school 54 107 too high, itis impossible to publish in a large - Enrolement 2,780 14,943 30,317 number to meet the demand of the readers. - Teachers 108 753 2,182 r-J 58 PLAN OF ACTIONS FOR PROMOTING 2) The Ministry of Education and Ministry READING HABITS of Information and Culture should encourage radio, T.V. programmes in Before describing my plans of practical promoting reading habits, education and actions for promoting reading habits in my training, so that these programme will be country based on my N.P.-method data map, organized frequently. I would like to talk about the situation of 3) Expanding national literary activities: my country. - National Library will take care of all Lao people's democratic republic is a libraries and to increase library small country and is one of forest countries facilities and activities, to cooperate of the world.It is a land locked with low closely with other departments and economy and poor topography.The country different organizations from all over is full of hill and mountains (about 2/3 of the world to get books and any total area).The available means of materials and to distribute to all transportation are not developed and libraries throughout the country: adequate.In this condition itis very - National Library should open one difficult to do collective works for the section for children's reading and try people of whole country.Some rural areas to use of Karnishibai and other story are not developed, only urban areas have telling techniques and to introduce facilities to practice the actions for children to books. promoting reading habits. National Library should provide books Talking about promoting reading habits in for public libraries and the reading Laos, itis a new topic and we have many animation centres. problems as follows: To make the portable library and distribute to reading animation centres Insufficient publics libraries and most in the rural area,this project will be libraries are located in schools, only in requested the government to give urban area financial support. Poor knowledge of library utilization 4) Training course and workshop: skills among people I will organize the training programme Insufficient books and materials for librarians, teachers in the teachers Few books published in Lao language colleges and the national library. Shortage of publishing house and writers. Organize workshop in promoting reading Illustrators of children's books are very few. habits and invite the experts in the field of promoting reading habits from Future action plans in promoting reading Unesco organization, publishing house, habits in Laos institutions etc... to give lectures, demonstration and training to enable Iwill describe what Iwould like to do such as:librarians and other related when Iget back to my country. personnel to acquire know-how and concreate experiences to rebuild/start 1) To submit my government a proposal to their library services; to acquire give more facilities to apply the effective technical skills to organize reading ways of solutions to reading throughout activities for children, to provide more the country and to provide financial reading/library services in schools, resources to all libraries and publishing community centres and to prepare their houses.For instance the government own manuals or guidelines for should encourage private book store and developing lively reading. b`governmentbook store to c .ndin the 5) Iwill try to develop more school different parts of country so that the libraries in primary, secondary and high parents can buy books for their children. school and also to mobilize and to The government should support the promote people to make Bunko (Home writers and illustrators of children's Library) by their proper potential. books to create good books. The publishing house should publish more In conclusion, the ACCU training course books in Lao language, picture books, has provided me with lots of precious science books and cooperate c:losely with experiences and I hope to cooperate closely the national library to help extending with ACCU for more informations to promote libraries. reading habits in my country.
56 59 Malaysia indirectly stimulate interest and focus the attention of educationists, teachers and librarians on issues related to children READING CAMPAIGN AND PROMOTION reading.In this context, a better reading ACTIVITIES IN MALAYSIA climate in school was anticipated. Another important factor to reinforce, enrich and enhance the reading process in by Jamilah Ibrahim school is the School Resource Centre (S''). Ministry of Education To this end, the Ministry is spending M$0.J.5 million between 1985-1990 on the School The National Book Development Council Reading Programme to augment the SRC (NBDC) playing the main and important role collection of all schools in the country. in promoting reading set its goal to create a With the proclamation 1988 as the nation of Readers by 2000.One of the National Year of The Reader (TAHUN steps taken to this end is the launching of PEMBACA) by the Prime Minister, the the national reading campaign 1980, to give resolve to make the reading habit a part of sufficient impact to this long term plan. people's regular activities was renewed.The The campaign, presently in its second campaign gained momentum and plans were Five Year Plan is taking every endeavour to made, though broad based, emphasis was achieve its goal through three strategies: given to the children. 1. publish more books The main impetus to promoting children's 2.supply the books to the readers reading in school comes from the Ministry of 3. educate the people Education's strategies to inculcate the A multi prong programme to promote reading habits.Programmes were reading were drawn up at national, state and implemented at the Ministry, and through to district level, to involve government officials the State and District Education Department from various ministries, the public libraries and school all over the country.In many of all states, National Library and all areas, the public libraries become joint organization and associations related to the sponsors and implementors through the main book trade. library, the branch library and the mobile In this paper only the Ministry of library services. Education's programme and activities are The programme planned cover all avenue covered.No attempt is made to explain any that has direct or indirect influence on the project or activities carried out by other children in promoting reading habit.At the organization, as it will be covered in the Ministry level, seminars were conducted for other paper prepared by my colleague. teachers and parents, School Resource Centre A survey on the reading habit of the Development Competitions were held for Malaysian was conducted in 1982 by Dewan school, Quiz Competition and Reading Camp Bahasa dan Pustaka (an institution, carried out for the children. responsible for the development of the Malay language - the official and the national language of Malaysia). READING PROMOTION ACTIVITIES BY THE The finding of the survey shows that MINISTRY OF EDUCATION Malaysian has a relatively high literacy rate, vis 74%.However, the finding of the same I.Reading Seminar survey reveals a disheartening and a grim picture of the reading population in The reading seminar held in October 1988 Malaysia.It shows that although the aimed at creating awareness among the literacy rate is relatively high, Malaysia read teachers to the need of promoting reading, very little. the importance of acquiring the information The Ministry of Education natural concern handling skills.It also aimed at exposing to for the development of reading ability of the the teacher, the importance of the books and children, is clearly indicated with the other media as disseminators of knowledge, a introduction of the Kurikulum Baru Sekolah counsel and friend.One hundred various Rendah, KBSR meaning the New Primary subject teachers from all the fourteen states School Curriculum in 1983.The KBSR attended the Seminar. stressed child centred learning and the mastery of the 3R: Reading also being an important component.This is a factor to
60 5 7 2.Parent-Teacher Association Seminar scheduled to coincide with the National Book Fair held in the capital city to give the A special two-day seminar with the theme students the opportunity to choose and buy A Reading Family Is A Knowledgeable Family books from the vast collection at the Book aimed at creating awareness towards parents' Fair. responsibility and role in promoting reading habits of the children was organized for 5. Model School Resource Centre (SRC) parents at national level on April 1989. One hundred and twelve parents from all Another project launched during 1988: the over the country took part in the seminar. National Year of the Reader is the Model Three working papers presented by librarian School Resource Centre for the Secondary and educationist were: Schools.The aim of the project is to help o Children and Their Approach to Library schools with good potential, to develop their Usage school resource centre.This model SRC will Children's Early Reading then be an example for the secondary o Children Book Selection Guide schools to follow, and develop their SRC. A special handbook title "Family Library" Fourteen schools, one from each of the published by Educational Technology fourteen states was chosen by the State Division was launched and later Education Department, based on the criteria distributed to the participants. set by the Ministry of Education.One of Similar seminar is to be conducted all the fourteen states SRC was chosen to be over the country by the State and District the national model SRC. Education Department. 6. Book Talk and Book Report 3.General Knowledge Quiz Competition The Ministry of Education through the The second nation wide quiz competition State Education Department has asked every in line with the education concept and aims school in the country to plan and carry out at encouraging reading culture among their own programme to promote reading Malaysian was conducted.As such the among the children.The schools held book competition is a catalyst to promoting talk and book reporting sessions.The reading among the school children.The first educational technology Division to transmit competition was conducted in August 1988. their own book talk and book report for the The preliminary stage of the competition children throughout the country through their was conducted by each state in the country Educational Television programme. to identify the winner school of their respective states.The second stage was 7.School Resource Centre (SRC) Week conducted at zone level hosted by a chosen state in each of the five zone.The semi- Primary and secondary schools organized final and the final were conducted by the programme for the SRC Week.Many books Ministry of Education in the capital city in or reading related activities were carried August 1989. out.The schools are urged to give away book as reward or prize to the winners of 4.Reading Camp the various activities.
The Ministry of Education pioneered the SOME REASONS FOR SUCCESS Reading Camp at national level for secondary school children in November 1988.Students All the activities conducted by the from all over the country took part in this Ministry of Education at national levelare programme. successfully run, and are well received by Based on Reading I The Bridge to the State and District Education Success as the theme, the programme aimed Departments.Several State Education at exposing the student to the various skill Department have reported that they have vis speed reading, information handling skill. conducted seminar for teachers and parents Various activities with local writers and film in their respective states.It was reported show were carried out. too that they have conducted workshop for The Second and Third Reading Camp was teachers to learn how to conduct reading held in February and August 1989 camp in their own schools.With regard to respectively.The three reading camps were the model School Resource Centre, itwas
58 61 reported al.:o that a number of other school home-work and curricular based activities resource centre in some states have been which leave little time for reading outside developed and recognized as Model School this area; Resource Centre as well. f)The attraction of the TV There could be many reasons for the success, salient among them are: RECOMMENDED SOLUTIONS I) The projects were given financial support by the government 1) The education system should take a more 2) Well supported by all quarters government positive stance towards the inculcation of organization and private sectors the reading habit as a means of self- 3) Well announced and advertised among the development and life-long learning.In school Malaysia the initial steps are underway to make reading and information handling SOME PROBLEMS IN PROMOTING READING across the curriculum a part of daily class-room teaching. There are several factors that hinder the 2) A provision should be made for a regular promotion of reading, salient among them period in the time-table for Silent are: Sustained Reading, based on an active use 1) Lack of motivation; of the school resource centres. 2)Insufficient libraries.Most of the 3) School resource centres should be staffed libraries are located in schools and urban by trained full-time teacher-librarians who centres, hence there is a shortage of will provide guidance and encouragement public libraries in sub-urban and rural in the development of the reading habit and areas; information handling skills. 3)Insufficient books that are aimed at 4) The per capita grant for the purchase of reaching those at lower levels of library books in schools should be sophistication.What is needed are more increased to keep abreast with increase in books for specific reading groups i.e. book prices and the need to increase school leavers, housewives, government pupil-book ratio in schools servants, etc. on domestic topics, social 5) Concrete steps should be taken to matters written in simple language; encourage parents to play an active role 4) The shortage of local creative writing in the development of their children's especially for older children and young reading habits through : people; re-ordering the priority status of book- 5) A dearth of attractively illustrated purchasing in the home picture books for pre-readers and early organizing home libraries readers; -setting an example to their children by 6) The relatively high cost of books; their own interest in reading and 7) The lack of training facilities for balancing it with other pursuits such as personnel engaged in the book industry TV viewing 6) More book fairs should be organized at At the school level much has been and is national and regional levels, particularly being done in increasing the reading habit. for children, and adults with lower-level However, some of the problems faced are as intellectual sophistication. follows: 7) The mass-media - TV, radio and the a) Shortage of books both in terms of newspapers - could improve upon their number of titles and number of copies; present efforts to promote the reading b)The difficulties faced by pupils in habit through : accessing books from school libraries serialization of books of popular interest because the libraries are closed most of in the newspapers the day as there is no full-time teacher -print more reviews of books suitable for librarian on duty; children and the newly literate c) Insufficient time devoted to make children the provision of book titles related to love reading as most of the language subjects covered in TV/radio programmes teaching periods are used for teaching e.g. use of pesticides, Olympic games, "the decoding process" of reading; etc. d) The absence of specific time allocated in 8) Publishing houses and the National Book the time-table for silent reading; Development Council, together with the e) The overwhelming pre- occupation with Ministry of Education, should conduct
62 5 market research surveys to determine the reading promotion program for the reading needs of the various sectors of school throughout the country. society so that books may be published to 4) The School Library Section should also cater for the varied interests and levels plan and organizereading promotion for of the reading public. the parents and by the parents for their 9) A national training programme for the children. book industry in the country should be 5) The School Library Section should plan drawn up and implemented to increase the encourage and coordinate book promotion number of qualified translators, editors, activities/programmes through the mass illustrators, etc. media, especially the TV. 6) The School Library Section should CONCLUSION encourage schools to allocate one hour per week for reading related activities. The proclamation 1988 as the Year of The 7) The schools are to be urged to organize Reader has been a starting point to initiate library week every year.The program efforts to promote reading.With the planned should ensure total involvement commer cement of the 1990 as The Year of of the school. Literacy, we envisage continual and intensive 8) The School Library Section should initiate efforts towards reaching our goal.To create the formation of School Library a nation of reader by 2000 is guaranteed. Association in the country. PLAN OF PRACTICAL ACTION FOR Evaluation PROMOTION OF READING HABITS AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN IN The School Library Units in the State MALAYSIA Education Department is to monitor the implementation of the reading program The followings are some of the plans of activities in schools in their respective practical action that can be carried out in state and is to report the same to the order to promote reading habits among the School Library Section in the Ministry of school children. Education who will produce School Library Bulletin at least twice a year. 1) The existing School Library Section in the Ministry of Education should be reorganized and strengthened. Malaysia 2)It should be supported by a special section in the national public libraries. PROMOTION OF READING HABITS IN 3)It should consist of the following: a) Accession and production unit MALAYSIA: SUCCESSFUL PROJECTS/ This unit should be responsible of (a) ACTIVITIES & PROBLEMS selecting suitable books that are available (b) coordinating the cooperation of publishers and by Aizan Mohd. Ali educators to produce good and suitable Dewan Bahasa dan books for children (c) purchasing Pustaka suitable books for the school libraries. b) Processing unit. Introduction This unit's main task is to classify Readership Promotion Campaign (R PC) was catalogue and process the books officially launched by the Education Minister centrally for the schools. on 28 January 1980.This campaign was c) Training unit initiated and planned by Dewan Bahasa & This unit is responsible for the Pustaka.Since then, several short term and organizing training of teachers about long term activities were planned aiming at library service and production of educating the general public and producing simple reading materials more books to reach the readers (rural and d) Service unit urban areas).In the following year, the This unit is responsible for preparing National Book Development Council (NBDC) book lists and reviews of Malaysia was reactivated to carry out its e) Reading promotion unit activities more effectively in promoting This unit is to plan and organize reading habits among Malaysians.Being a 60 63 professional and advisory body in book 3.Book Fair development in the country it receives the support of the government and private The annual Malaysia Book Fair officiated sectors that are involved in the development by Education Minister was held on 4th of the book for social and national interests. August 1989.This fair also attracts Some activities that were carried out international participation and has become a received very encouraging response despite major and popular book event in the country. various problems encountered during the Reports have shown that it received good course of its implementation.In comparison participation with a crowd of 250,000 people to other developing nations of the third not including 109 schools participants.Book world, our literacy rate (more than 75%) has fairs are also held in the states under the increased over the past few years.Anyway, sponsorship of the NBDC.The publication of the above campaign can only be successful his first book Menangani perubahan had a when all groups of people actively surprise launch during the fair.The book is participate. a compilation of his selected speeches and working papers presented at various Activities meetings, talks and functions over the last 10 years.It focuses on various topics including 1.Documentary on video tape philosophy, education, economics and politics. Of particular interest in the book is a The first documentary on the pleasure of chapter on 'budaya ilmu' (knowledge reading was produced on video tape entitle culture).Apart from this, other activities to Bridge to knowledge (Jambatan Ilmu) was attract public to the fair throughout the completed for viewing in July 1989.This week include shows, story telling sessions, project was organized by the National Book etc. geared towards children's interest and Development Council of Malaysia in participation. collaboration with DBP, while the financial and promotional materials were obtained from 4.Reading Week Campaign Unesco.On the 8th of September, this 25 Recently in September, DBP launched a minutes documentary was shown over the Reading Week Campaign to promote reading national TV network to commemorate the habit among its staff.During the launching International Literacy Day.Next year, ceremony, the DBP Chairman advised the public libraries will have video presentation staff to adopt a positive attitude towards at their annual Reading Campaign activities reading by being the forefront where and this documentary will be one of the knowledge was concerned.He also advised programmes to be shown.In fact NBDC is them to read more educational and quality now processing requests receivedfrom all books.At the state level, public libraries libraries in the country, while response from were actively organizing Reading Week, Book other interested parties have been very Week, Reading Camps, Reading Month and encouraging indeed. other reading related activities. 2.Seminar/Conventions 5.Translated Works Early this year the Malaysian Youth At the third meeting of the National Council organized a seminar on youth and Reading Movement Committee, Education reading in conjunction with Month of the Minister stressed that reading materials must Youth to cultivate reading habits amongst be made available to the rural population if them which is still low.During this one day the government's efforts to increase literacy seminar, only year 1990, but the launching and promote the reading habit are to was already held on 8 September 1989 by succeed.He further announced that the organizing a 4 day seminar.Several government has set aside a large sum of activities commencing since this date are money to make available more reading moving at a steady pace towards the materials under the reading movement eradication of illiteracy which is a major programme.The ability of DBP to produce global problem.It includes promoting more books in bahasa (national language) literacy through extending primary education either translated or original in various fields to all children and providing literacy was an encouraging and positive instruction to out-of-school youth and adults. development.Its recent translated book How to read a book is a useful guide to all.
64 61 6. Associations/Organizations been a significant growth in the production of non-textbook publications Throughout the months, several for children.However, most of the professional associations and women children's books appear to be an organizations participated actively in the 'extention' of what school children learn reading campaign.Women associations of the and read in schools,.Failure by local government department such as 'Puspanita' publishers to break away from this of the Ministry of Rural Development tradition has led to a penetration of organized talks for members on parents' role imported children's books, but rural in promoting reading.Reading rooms can now population cannot afford to purchase such be seen in many governmental and non- publications whereby the prices are governmental institutions.The National relatively high. Writers Associations play a role by organizing literacy competitions from time to time. Conclusion This not only produced and encourage new talents but also attracted people's attention Activities towards promotion of reading to books and literature. habits in Malaysia for the year 1989 are not very active compared to the past few years. Problems Though these activities are conducted by several organizations in the country, it is 1. The attitude of parents in our society is under the umbrella of the National Book geared primarily towards achievements in Development Council's 'Reading Promotion 'paper qualifications'.This is the result Campaign Project'.Year of the Reader has of the current social demands and the succeeded in creating a strong awareness trend of national development.Books are among Malaysians on the importance of meant to be read and enjoyed, and to be reading in any society, but Ifeel Malaysians understood.Constant reading will keep are still on the way to becoming a reading an open mind but they should not accept society. slavishly what they read.This is itself poses a problem in creating a reading ACTION PLANS FOR PROMOTING society. READING HABITS IN MALAYSIA
2.Reading facilities in the rural areas are 1.Role of library and librarians still lacking and this hinders rural children to actively participate in any The library plays an important role and reading campaign projects.Rural reading functions in line with line the objectives of rooms that are established by the Rural the organization towards promoting the Development Authority are poorly manned. national language, literature and publication They do not receive sufficient subsidies in in the country and overseas.Therefore, a the form of money and books for their librarian in a research library is the root to mini community libraries.We cannot deny build and create awareness within the the fact that society has always expected organizat'on in promoting reading habits subsidies from the government for its among the staff.In other words, librarians social, economic and community projects. should be a readable and knowledgeable Though there is an interested reading person before being also to serve and provide young group in rural areas, a large sector services to the other staff from various of these areas, which do not have departments of the organizations. reading rooms, is not serviced by mobile libraries.Campaigning among political a) The library's collection should be very leaders, government officials at state comprehersive to cater all levels of level and community leaders have to be staff.Reading and reference materials carried out concurrently in order to gain must be sufficient to meet their needs. their active participations and full To promote reading especially among the support in order to achieve significant professional group, magazines on various results. profession should he sufficient.Besides this, popular magazines of better quality 3.Efforts in educating the general public is content should be made available for some only meaningful when more hooks are light reading.Even though 1 find that available.Over past years there has the reading habit among the lower level
62 65 is towards light reading, librarians should librarian initiates it.In this way, cater for them as well.In the long over executive will have positive outlook for they may increase their reading power greater achievement. and go for better reading materials which are related to their daily work, eg. in the 2. Training facilities to all technical area of printing. b) Being the centre of information The professionals in particular the dissemination, librarians should be more librarians, editors, translators and illustrators active in their library orientation should be given sufficient training in their programs which will not only be carried relevant field from time to time.Such out whenever there is a new batch of new exposure is not only necessary for newstaff staff but should be carried out by stages. but other senior staff to give them enough This will enable all staff to know their exposure and learn new things to enablethem library and its usage.They will soon to produce good quality work rather than realize the existence and importance of stereotyped ones.I would suggest if such the library and be a readable group. training is available locally more people This professional guidance should also be should be sent by having a rotation system. given to outside researchers that use the library to familiarize them with the 3.Illustrator's rate library's holdings whereby they can get valuable information for their research Good children's illustrators are still projects.On the other hand, the library lacking in the country and some of them are must activate the current awareness working in DBP.Illustrators should be services to the staff by distributing confident to try new techniques of leaflets or information sheets on related illustrations while maintaining some fields of profession to alert them of conventional style.There has to be a break current events.Reading awareness can in tradition.They play an important role in be created by occasionally organizing producing more good picture books especially activities such as book talks, introducing for preschool level to meet the increasing best-selling books from overseas and local demand within the society.I agree that the ones. graphic unit continuesits yearly workshop c) Publishing the library holdings (books, AV to evaluate their works for better materials, etc.) by having weekly or production. monthly displays not only within the library but within other departments. 4.Translation activities Some officers just do not want to visit the library, therefore librarians should The rate of translation is increasing and publicize in individual departments the panel deciding on the titles to be accordingly.Book displays hold within translated must be knowledgeable of the the library premises to attract more subject coverage and must ensure to produce readers has to be catchy and attractive. relevant and latest editions especially books Library exhibitions should be held for higher learning. Iwill request them to occasionally to highlight some interesting work closely with the library in order to get issues which will encourage staff to do a the most updated information.Meanwhile, further research on some of the issues translation of technical books should be done potrayed. at a faster rate for readers to cope with d) The 'Library Month' which was held fast technological era. recently should be carried out on a yearly basis.These activities will indirectly 5. Monthly magazines available lead staff to use the library and create reading awareness among them.Services Dewan Pelajar, i.e. the children's monthly such as having a reading camp should be magazine should have a more colourful layout given a serious thought. Iwill write to attract more children to read or write for towards organizing such program to cater this magazine.Staff should be given the all levels.During such sessions, audience incentive to write to the present six monthly will be guided on hook selection and magazines that we are currently publishing. techniques of reading.A book club In order to get enough materials to write, should be formed among the executive they will have to read more. group and this is only possible if the
66 63 6.Availability of trade catalogues listeners to read more books to widen their horizon besides going to the library New titles published by DBP should be to clarify some points or views discussed reviewed by its own staff instead of during the session. outsiders.This will the n be published by b) Children's whereby parents are allowed to the mass media (local newspapers) on a bring their children to watch and weekly basis.In such cases, the number of participate in such activities, eg. story books reviewed in the national language will telling, puppet shows, etc.I would increase to reach the masses.Catalogues of suggest that librarians team with the new titles currently published should be more children's department to organize such attractive and appealing to readers, while activities which require some dedication the publication of trade catalogues should be on our part. done on a regular basis to create public awareness of such new publications.These publications would be meaningless unless widely distributed throughout the country to all levels of society.The Marketing Department should take the initiative to ACTIVITIES ON PROMOTION OF publish its own books in prize which is READING HABITS IN NEPAL lacking in the country to promote the publications as well as creating a reading awareness. Iwill suggest that the by Prabandha Kumar Sakya Publishers Association cooperate to publish a Sajha Prakashan yearly comprehensive books in print to portray the nation's total publication. The history of promotion of reading habits in Nepal may be traced back to 1930, 7.Availability of posters when an attempt was made to open a public library.The attempt was not much Local posters to create reading awareness successful.The reasons were on one hand, among the public is lacking, DBP should the conservative attitude of the then print more posters on reading for the Government and on the other, the low masses.We do not necessarily wait for any percentage of literacy. occasional events to be held. I will suggest Since 1913 publishing of a limited number to the management level to hold poster of books was carried out.A Government competitions at least twice a year to get publishing institution was established and the good illustrated posters and this will Gorkha (later Nepali) language publication encourage more illustrators to produce their committee came into existence.This proved work.These posters should also be to be a gift not only to the promotion of distributed throughout the country especially Nepali language and literature but also to school libraries, public libraries, government that of reading habit.Even then literacy departments through our agents that are was only 0.5 percent. already available. Obviously, production and publishing of books alone was not enough to promote 8.Bookshop organization reading habit among the people, publishing of magazines and newspapers had to be The present bookshop should portray a encouraged.Gorkhapatra alone newspaper in unique identity considering that DBP is the the country, had been published since 1901as biggest publishing house in the country, it a weekly.It was bi-weekly since 1943.In should be attractively designed.At the same addition to that two literary magazines, time, the staff working here should be Sharada, and Uddyog were brought outas knowledgeable of all the organization's monthly journal since 1934 and 1935 publications (old and new) to answer any respectively.These journals were either inquires. Iwill put forward this suggestion sponsored or patronized by the Government. to the committee responsible. Moreover because of the ground of educational institutions there was a marked 9. Other related activities increase in the percentage of literacy and the people began to take interest in a) The monthly religious talks held should be acquiring knowledge. in depth and indirectly encouraging The promotion of reading habits tooka
64 67 momentum after 1951 when a democratic In spite of all those efforts, however, system of policy ensured in the country, and there was no substantial growth in reading particularly when the democratic panchayat habit.This was revealed by the sample system was introduced in 1960.Reading survey conducted in 1972.The survey habit among the masses as could be measured covered 50 percent of the city area, high from the growth in the number of book- school arid college students. sellers, publishers, newspapers and magazines. Till now the success in promoting reading This can be attributed on one hand to the habit among the people is modest and much efforts of the Government and to the reading more efforts have to be made to further public on the other.Gradually publishing improve the situation. business became attractive and more and more publishers and booksellers began to take Most serious problems in promoting reading interest in this field. habits This is further tetified by the fact that the literacy rate had grown at faster rate 1.Educational policy and planning on reading since 1951 which can be seen from the table promotion: below: Nepal is one of the countries having a low percentage of literacy in Asia. According to latest official statistics only Literacy Rate of Nepal 46 percent are literate.A wide range of Percentage factors including cultural bias, traditional Year rigidity and socio-economic condition are 1951 2.0 responsible for it.Literacy is key to 1953 4.3 education, culture and knowledge.That 1961 8.9 is why our government is trying to 13.9 increase the literacy percentage speedily. 1971 The education system is more examination 1981 24.0 oriented.Hence less emphasis is given on 1986 30.0 the promotion of reading habits.Even 1988 35.0 educated people have loW reading habits. If the number of newspaper and periodical 2. Lack of library: is any indication about the growth in the There is a little awareness among the reading habit, the following table is the case people about the importance of libraries. in point, There is lack of adequate library facilities particularly in rural areas. Year Dallies 13i- weeklies k1eeklies Fortnight) Total Even if there is library, suitable and 1982-83 51 3 254 27 335 interesting reading materials are not 1983-84 58 4 339 54 455 available.There are limited number of 1984-85 - - books and the reader do not find books 1986 -87 59 2 340 47 448 of their choice and interest.Some 351 47 460 1987-88 GI I schools have their own libraries, but the stock of reading materials is limited.The The increasing number of publishers is librarians also are untrained and have no also an indication. idea about the interest of the reader and A number of libraries were set up on how to promote reading habits. national and local level and book exhibition was held almost regularly since 1972, 1972, 3.High price and low quality of books: 1983, 1985 and 1987 respectively.At the In the developing countries like ours, moment the number of publishers were where there is low purchasing capacity interested to take part in the book and low literacy percentage interesting exhibition.In recent years the publishers and illustrated reading materials in low have shown great interest in improving the price should be made available.But the quality of their publications, in respect of situation is just opposite to it.Low sale coverage, presentation and get-up. of books compels publishers to print Advertising through radio and other mass fewer copies which in turn will increase media also started.The creation of book the price of books, is above the reach of development council is also a boost to the the general readers.Most of the hook promotion activities. publishers are not willing to invest a
68 65 greater amount of money for producing other reading materials is a challenging high quality books.They are much more and Very difficult job.More than two- concerned with profit than publishing thirds of the country is covered with high books of the interest of the reader. hills and mountains.Road transport is Usually most of the publishers are not not sufficiently developed in our country willing to hire trained and talented and railways and waterways are almost writers and illustrators as they demand nonexistent.In this situation we have to high remuneration.As a result they depend heavily on road transport alone, cannot produce high quality books. which accounts to 6611 km.Even out of Illustrated children books are very this black topped 2837 km, gravelled 1477 expensive.Publishers have to invest km and earther 2297 km we have to carry great amount of money for their the reading materials by using beasts of publications.Quality materials are one burden and on human back, to the remote of the factors affecting the price. and inaccessible parts of tl,e country. The readers also have their own These modes of transportation are slow problems.High price is one of the main and costly.The price of reading problems.Useful, interesting and quality materials is uniform throughout the reading materials are not available in one kingdom whether the place is a city or a place.Suitable reading materials for remote area.There are a very few various age groups are not sufficiently publishers who have their own sale available in the market.The scarcity of outlets.Sajha Prakashan is one of the books is also responsible for low reading national publisher, who has maintained a habit. fairly large number of sale depots.It undertakes distribution of reading 4.Lack of co-operation among the related materials in the remote and inaccessible Government and non-governmental parts of the country through its branches organizations in respect of book and agents.The commission given to the promotion: agents vary from 10 to 75 percent In Nepal a section of mass depending on distance and accessibility. communications are run by the Even ;hen books are not sufficiently government owned agencies like Radio, available to the readers of far flung T.V. and newspapers.Advertisement places cf the country.In 1988 Sajha through mass media is necessary for Prakashan alone distributed 4.0 million promoting reading habits.But these mass free text books, 3.6 million priced text media are expensive for advertising. books and other reading materials. While non-governmental organizations are engaged in publishing supplementary PRACTICAL ACTION PLAN FOR reading materials and government owned PROMOTION OF READING HABITS organizations are mainly engaged in publishing text books.The mass media do Promotion of books and reading habits not give concession rate for advertising are possible only when there is a literate reading materials. society.Our country has achieved only 46% of literacy which is not sufficient for 5.Role of teachers and parents: the so-called literate society.Beside this The role of teachers and parents is also we have a lot of things to be improved vital for the promotions of reading.The for promotion of reading habits in our teachers do not motivate children to read country.In the course of discussion, we other than text books.Parents also analized problems and proposed some new preferred to see that their children read ideas in this regard.I am going to text books.Their ignorance about the explain the main points below: interest of the children is also one major I.Training for teachers: problem responsible for the promotion of The teachers give emphasis on reading reading habits.The fact that many text books only to the children.They parents in our country who are illiterate can motivate children to read and is also one of the factors for low reading develop children's reading habits.They habits among the children. must be trained in their in- service training programme, how to promote 6.Distribution and transport management: reading skill and habits, techniques of Countrywide distribution of books and story telling, from the very beginning
66 69 when the children start to read. materials used for the production of 2.Production of high quality books: reading materials, so that, publishers Reading promotion is quite impossible are able to produce high quality and unless interesting reading materials are low priced reading materials which is accessible to the readers.Production one of the major factors in promoting of high quality books are limited in reading habits. number in our country.And what we 7.Role of teachers in promoting reading say "creater of reading habit" should be habits of children: increasedand widely circulated.Itis Teachers can conduct, reading, writing possible when publishers are subsidized quiz and debate competition among from the government.We should the children, and organize group tour distribute some copies to schools and programme to different educational school libraries free of cost institutions, publishing companies, immediately. book exhibitions and libraries.It 3.Library facility should be provided encourages children to read and helps where itis necessary: to promote reading habits. Library management and administration should be under one roof specially for 8. Lstly, Ihave to convince my public libraries.More libraries are to management to publish interesting, high be set up at least one in every village quality and low priced reading materials and in offices and clubs.Home and according to different age groups, upon mobile libraries also should be my return to my country. introduced in major towns of the country, for the reading promotion. 4.Parentsrole in promoting reading Pakistan habits of their children:Parents can play a major role in the development of PROMOTION OF READING HABITS IN reading habits at an early age.They PAKISTAN are the main guide for children in this stage.They can enjoy their children through interesting and joyful story by Jahan Khan Jamro telling.They can provide them picture National Book Council books as well as other interesting of Pakistan reading materials, and encourage their children to read, most of the parents in our country are still illiterate or The National Book Council of Pakistan is neoliterate.There are 41 government meant for promotion of book reading and and non-government organizations writing in the country.The following are involved in non-formal education with a the programmes and projects of the council coverage of 100,000 illiterates each firstly and foremostly aimed to the promotion year.It provides them some basic of book-reading habits among the people of training andeducation in the country. Pakistan: 5.Distribution infrastructure should be 1)Readers Club Scheme improved through efficient 2) Book Fairs transportation, postal facilities, and 3) Book Exhibitions mobile services. We are planning to 4) Purchase of books under "multiple copies extend the surface road facility in the scheme" for supply to the libraries major parts of the country.Now we 5) Encouraging the serious and creative have a very few efficient transport writings facility as compared to other countries 6)Purchase of books underpromotion of of Asia and the Pacific.Side by side children 's literature scheme we should provide postal facility and mobile service to send books and other 1."Readers Club Scheme" reading materials to the readers. 6.Government should recognize publishing The Readers Club Scheme has proved as as a industry and provide maximum one of the magnificent and an effective incentives.Such as customs and taxes source to help eradicate illiteracy and should be free or minimized for encourage reading habit among children, men, imported raw materials and other women and youths through quality books at
70 67 highly subsidized rates in Pakistan.Readers 3. Promotion of books through purchase of club had since been working at Islamabad, multiple copies Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, under this scheme.The To encourage works of Pakistani scholars book-thirsty public use to get membership at 200 copies each of titleare purchased by every office of National Book Council of the National Book Council of Pakistan at an Pakistan by a token fee of Rs.10 and average cost of Rs :150/= per title.The membership card issued to them. The member main purpose is to help topromote books of Readers Club Scheme may purchase books within the country and provide more new worth Rs :10001= at their own choice except books for the readers.This also helps fiction and text books from the book-shops scholars and authors financially. registered with the National Book Council of Pakistan on 50% discount in a calendar year. 4. Encouraging the serious and creative The book lover public of Pakistan get too writings much inspiration from the very scheme, according to their per capita income in this This scheme has begun to encourage the era of inflation and expensive printing serious and creative writing of Pakistani material.The poor book-thirsty public could authors in various fields.The National Book purchase the richest of the printed material, Council of Pakistan calls for the manuscripts book of their taste in a meager money from of the authors through ads in newspapers and their pocket.There become at least 15000- the manuscripts are examined by the experts. 16000 members under the Readers Club In the light of the recommendations of the Scheme of National Book Council of Pakistan experts the council guarantees the authors every year in Pakistan.The thousands of the purchase of 400 titles at the 85% of bookish people in Pakistan see this scheme a price of the books.In compliance to the best way to the way to the promotion and Prime Minister's orders Rs. 200,000 would be encouraging of book reading habits in the awarded to the authors of the best country.There is a need to keep manuscript every year and in addition to this scheme intact and continue in the that such authors will receive Prime interest of book loving literate men, women Minister's gold medal.The copies purchased and children of Pakistan.This scheme may on 85% of price from the authors at the rate be expanded upto the remote and far-flung of 400 copies of each title are distributed but backward areas of Pakistan, where the among the national libraries where the sections of bookish public reside but the readers get such books available for reading. grave problem with the future of this scheme The national libraries forward these books is the shortage of funds, of course.The still further to smaller libraries and thisway need of funds for knowledge and wisdom may the scheme goes to the grass roct level. appeal to the international agencies concerned in the interests of education 5.Promotion of Children's Literature (reading habits) of masses of Pakistan. The main objective of this scheme is to 2. Book Fairs and Book Exhibitions provide good children's literature.The scheme is being advertised in the press to The National Book Council of Pakistan attract potential writers for collecting use to hold book fairs throughout Pakistan, manuscripts and books on children's while they are participated by renowned literature.Manuscripts and books are invited publishers, booksellers and book traders.The through press from the available manuscripts purpose of book fairs stands for the selection will be done on the promotion of book reading habit among recommendations of experts.In the light of general public in particular and encouraging the recommendations of the experts. the of book trade in Pakistan in general.The National Book Council of Pakistan shall books made available are sold on the purchase 500 copies of approved books. An discount of 25% to 33% of the price.Book award of Rs. 50,000 shall be given to Exhibitions are also organized by the authors of best book/manuscript eachyear. National Book Council of Pakistan on theeve The books shall be donated to school of national days which attract the bookish libraries. public on large scale.
68 71 ACTION PLAN TO PROMOTE READING special push to book promotion and reading HABITS IN PAKSITAN habits. Practical action plan for promoting 6. Book Exhibitions and Workshops: reading habit and book development in my country, Pakistan is based on the active We try to organize more book participation of booksellers, publishers, exhibitions arid short period workshops on a writers, illustrators and cooperation among each regular basis in several provinces in the other.Then we can expect that publishers country. can publish high quality books in low priced and reader can enjoy the books with their taste.To fulfill this objective government Papua New Guinea should provide some facilities and incentive to the publishers.Our government is going READING PROMOTION ACTIVITIES FOR to reduce the custom and duties in the raw CHILDREN IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA, materials necessary for the production of PROBLEMS AND POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS reading material.
1.Library Facility: by Doleti Charope National Library of For the promotion of reading habit itis necessary to extend the library facility in Papua New Guinea the country because library set-up is Introduction essential for rural area than urban areas, Papua New Guinea, an independent 2.Training Facility to Librarians and country in the Pacific which is made up of Teachers: the eastern part of the island of New Guinea and many other islands that stretch out for Librarians and teachers must have some more than 1,600 kilometres. training programme for the efficient The eastern part of the island of New operation of libraries. Guinea, where the majority of the population live, is mountainous.The total land area of 3.Parents Contribution to Promote Reading this rugged country is 462,840 square Habits of Children: kilometres.Its 3.5 million people speak 869 distinct languages plus two common Parents should encourage their children languages, Tok Pisin (Pidgin English) and ineading promotion through opening iri Motu.English is the official language, "Bunko" type libraries in their homes, and is the medium of instruction in part! cipating in reading competition, reading educational institutions.The majority of the circles and visiting book exhibitions.They people are subsistence gardeners, hunters or can motivate their children by giving book fishermen.A growing proportion are getting gifts on important events such as birthday into cash cropping, and the main means of and passing the examination. transport is either air or sea. Air transportation is expensive in Papua New 4.Distribution of Books: Guinea and, because this is one of the main means of transport, itis often difficult to For the systematic distribution of books distribute economically materials or books, itis necessary to have a cooperation among particularly to school and public libraries. the publishers, wholesellers andretailers. My report will touch briefly on publishing Also proper transportation facility for book and literacy in the country, and their distribution in rural areas with corcessional relationship to the promotion of reading. postal rates shall improve the distribution Furthermore, it will look at libraries and network. their efforts to promote reading to children, particularly focusing on the National Library 5.Mass Media: and National Book W..ek, and other organizations involved in the promotion of National Book Council of Pakistan has hooks and reading. already launched a campaign involving media, press, T.V. and radio service to give
72 69 1.Publishing and its Relationship to Reading Some local book companies such as Web Promotion Present Situation Books and Independent Books have also contributed towards publishing.Web Books Publishing in the country is not a very has produced simple readers suitable for big industry and so little is produced and community schools (grades 1-6) such as Toby published locally.At present there are a few and the Bird, Little Canoe, Kujil and the organized book publishing organizations that Smugglers, while Independent Books is the produce and publish books and materials for publisher of Koro's Canoe. various types of readers. Others are the Education Research Unit of Kristen Pres is one of the biggest the '.university of Papua New Guinea, Wirui publishers in the country.It has published Press, in Wewak, Trinity Press in Rabaul, the books such ad Nupela Testament (New Bible Society in Port Moresby and the Testament) and other religious publications, Summer Institute of Linguistics in Ukarumpa. biographies such as Bai, the Sorcerer, The Department of Primary Industry Sanggang, Cannibal Chief to Christian, health publishes Harvest magazine and The Lik Lik books such as Alcohol and You and others Buk. such as The Untangled New Guinea Pidgin. The Book Council of Papua New Guinea, Text books for teachers to use to teach besides promoting books and reading, also children have been published, such as Let's assists in promoting writing and publishing in Talk, A Community School Education, the country.With more people involved in Teaching Community Life, and many more. A organizations such as the Book Council, the children's story book called Kaians' Pawpaw situation may improve. is also published by Kristen Pres. Another publisher of Papua New Guinea 2.Literacy and Reading materials is Robert Brown & Associates of Australia which published a series of readers The introduction of literacy in local by Dianne McInnes, an expatriate writer who languages by mission groups has helped for a has livedin the country for sometime.Some long time, enabling some people to learn to of these books ale: The Cuscus Baby, The read and write in their own languages. Talking Pig, and The Muruk Chicks.These Also the use of local languages during this books are very appropriate to the children of time was very helpful to a lot of rural PNG because they relate more to the people and encouraged a variety of literacy situations they are used to. programmes for children and adults. Another popular book published by this Examples stated in a recent report on publisher is the Papua New Guinea atlas:a literacy in Papua New Guinea include: nation in transition, which is more suitable a) major programme support by the province for students attending high schools and for children in the North Solomons, East colleges.Included also are the popular New Britain, Enga, Morobe, Oro and Peoples of PNG series consisting of 30 Milne Bay provinces; titles. b) smaller non government organizations supported programmes for children in all The Curriculum Unit of i.he Education provinces; Department mainly produces educational c) adult literacy programmes run by non- resource books, syllabus material and government organizations, e.g. Southern teachers' guides. Highlands Adult Tok Ples Schools, Goroka With the help of the World Bank, the YWCA Tok Pisin programme, and the Tok Department is able to produce textbooks Pisin (Kisim Save) programme nationally. locally written and illustrated, specially for community and high school students, on In 1988 a National Literacy Committee various subject areas such as English, was established and a new National Literacy Matnematics, Health, CommunityI ife and Policy was also developed to encourage: Social Science.A good example of these a)initial literacy for both to children and textbooks is: Create and Communicate,a adults in a language in which they are book adapted to PNG requirements from the fluent; original text produced for Singaporean b) the transfer of these literacy skills schools. through bidding courses to English and the The Institute of Papua New Guinea lingua francas; Studies, has been producing monographson c) maintenance of Tok Ples literacy through folklore, myths, legends, art and dance. the community, secondary and tertiary
7 0 73 levels, to further the production of a national literature; and NATIONAL BOOK WEEK d) vernacular and lingua franca adult and 7-11 AUGUST 1989 out-of-school youth programmes. __, Following on from there was the r I `r establishment of a Literacy and Information Programme. ALSEKTA %.211G1111(iVivIMI LNANA713114AAIA At present there is no exact figure of 1300K 'F`Al'- literacy rates in the country.However, while some reports say it is as low as 30% 'rsi,,,,A the recognized international bodies such as Unesco, place Papua New Guinea as having one of the lowest literacy rates, as related to other developing countries, estimated by some as being as low as 15% of the adult population . With literacy rates as such, it gets quite difficult in trying to promote reading. The Summer Institute of Linguistizs is one of the biggest mission organizations which run programmes on literacy.Most of the 0 FOR MORE INfORMATION materials produced are in local and Tok Pisin PLEASE CONTA'T THE NATIONAL OBRARY languages. PO 80k 5no bONOKO
3.Libraiies, Books and Reading also some of the good books that are available in the library are displayed for the Libraries have played their part in children and their teachers to see.The promoting books and reading although there teachers are also encouraged to set up are not many well equipped and well stocked libraries in the schools during these visits. libraries in the country, apart from the two Schools organize their own programmes and university libraries, the National Library and activities apart from what is done for them few good teachers' college libraries. by the National Library and the National Book Week Committee. a) The National Library and its Efforts to An activity that is quite popular in Promote Reading international schools is the Book Character parade, where children choose their favourite The National Library of Papua New characters from books they have read and Guinea was opened in 1978.The building is dress up like them.This is an enjoyable an Independence gift from Australia.It activity as well as a way of promoting houses collections of books, films and videos books. and periodicals which are used by the A high school quiz is also organized in government, schools and public libraries which schools around the city take part. throughout the country. The contestants are given book prizes. It plays an important part in promoting Besides the schools, local booksellers also books and encouraging reading through its take part during the National Book Week in public library and school library services and displaying books in schools for children and the National Book Week. teachers to see and buy. The National Library assists in the promotion of books and reading by providing In other centres: lists of new suitable books to public libraries throughout the country for use in selecting During National Book Week, libraries and relevant books for the users. schools in other centres also take part in the These books are later ordered, processed and celebration with similar activities including are ready to be used by the public libraries. other activities. The School Library Service promotes the establishment and development of community c) Book Council of Papua New Guinea schools (grades 1-6) and high schools (grades 7-10) libraries throughout the country.It The Book Council also assists in
74 71 encouraging reading amongst all sections of locally, there are not many suitable books the population.This year a reading and materials available to use for awareness campaign was launched.Besides reading. this it also assists the National Book Week d) Libraries receive low funding priorities Committee to extend and promote National particularly in provincial centres.This is Book Week throughout the country, and in why there are not many well equipped particular the bookselling sector. libraries in the country. e) Good books, published outside the d) Local Booksellers country, are very expensive.They are generally too expensive for schools to There are several booksellers operating in purchase for libraries, and are not always the country.The bigger companies are Web appropriate. Books which serves most parts of the country f)Few properly organized and funded and is based in Port Moresby, and La Galamo programmes focussing on reading which is based in Lae, the second largest promotion, apart from what the Book city in the country.This bookseller serves Council is doing on Reading Awareness mostly the northern part of the country. and what is done in National Book Week. Gordon & Gotch serves many parts of the g) Television interferes with children's country also. reading habits.They tend to watch The smaller booksellers such as the movies more than reading books. University Bookshop cater mostly for h) Lack of co-operation among teachers, university students but also sells books to librarians and others in the book industry schools and the public around Port Moresby. on reading promotion, although the Book Independent Books, Lae Bookshop and all Council is attempting to resolve this mission bookshops also promote and sell problem. books.However there may be some i)The geographical nature of the land, with difference in the types of books sold and its rugged mountain ranges, swamps, promoted by other booksellers and church islands, hampers the distribution of books bookshops. and other materials. The results of the efforts of the National Library and other organizations in book and 5.Possible Solutions reading promotion is that children and the general public are made aware of the a)Produce effective reading awareness importance and usefulness of reading. programmes for parents and children Children come in to read books in the through events such as the National Book libraries or borrow books to read at home. Week. This way their parents and family are also b)More emphasis by the Government, encouraged. particularly the Education Department, on Teachers are also made aware of the reading promotion by allocating more services provided and encourage children to funds. use the libraries by setting research c)Introduce more literacy programmes. projects.Many schools are ordering books d)Build more good libraries and develop the and setting up their libraries with the existing libraries in the country. assistance of the School Library Service of e)Training programmes for teachers, the National Library. librarians and others involved on reading promotion. 4.Problems in Promoting Reading f)More publicity on reading promotion and books through the media, particularly on a) Many parents of children do not read and television.More programmes on books on do not know the value of books.This is Kids Kona (TV programme for children in why many children are not encouraged to PNG). read at home.They only start to read g)Encourage local publishing and local when they begin community school, mostly writers to write more good books at the age of 8 and 9. appropriate for children in PNG. h) Teachers do not encourage reading other books apart from textbooks used in Conclusion: schools. c) Low literacy rates and lack of suitable As mentioned earlier, there are many materials.Because littleis published factors contributing to the difficulties of 72 75 reading promotion in the country. may be useful for children's reading. Because the idea of using libraries is There is still need for more publicity to quite new, and reading is not a very popular create awareness on the importance of activity, there is still a need to publicize reading and the use of libraries.All libraries as well as promote reading in much ineans of media to be used to be able to bigger and effective way. reach out to the children all over the There is need also to encourage local country. publishing, literacy programmes, training of More programmes to be produced on people and more co-operation by those topics such as Book Reviews, Book Talks, involved in promoting of reading e.g. Story reading, etc. to encourage children librarians, teachers, booksellers, mission to read books during their own times. groups and others. More support from the Government in There is still a lot of things to be done areas such as publishing and literacy will in PNG and is a long way away from make it possible for effective results in the success. supply of materials and reading promotion. However having said all that Iwould like to mention my plans of possible practical actions PLANS OF POSSIBLE PRACTICAL that can be carried out for promoting reading ACTIONS FOR PROMOTING READING habits for the children of Papua New Guinea. HABITS IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA a)First thingIwould do when Ireturn is Introduction to write a report and present it to all the staff of the National Library on what My report will mainly include the I have acquired during the 2 1/2 weeks practical actions that can be carried out at training.This report will also include the National Library and through the many suggestions and recommendations on National Book Week to promote reading all new activities, ideas and experiences habits.However before going on Iwill need which Ithink may be applicable to my to summarize here why I have included the country and the children of Papua New various organizations and groups on my map. Guinea. b)As an Executive of the National Book The National Library without the support Week Committee I would also suggest to from the Government as well as the the rest of the Committee to try out Education Department through funds, some of the new activities in future better laws and policies cannot be able National Book Week events and see from to carry out its services and activities there if new activities such as Kamishibai effectively in promoting reading habits to are useful. children. c) Iwill also share with other staff of the The support of Government and the National Library other library services Education Department is very much such as Bunkos or home libraries and needed to involve many people to take Mobile libraries although Mobile libraries part in the promotion of reading. are quite difficult to run in Papua New The National Library is trying its best at Guinea as the road systems are not very present to carry out such activities, secure. however at this stage there is still little d) I will also encourage more publicity to awareness or the importance of reading promote the National Book Week Event for children by the Government or even and its activities towards reading if the government is aware, there is still promotion.The National Book W eek little done about it. Committee including me will try to Teachers, parents, school librarians need involve more parents and teachers in to work together to create understanding future National Book Week events for and co-operation among each other so more successful results. that they can work together to encourage e)The members of the National Book Week children's reading habits in their own Committe2 and 1 will try to involve more ays. school librarians also to take part by Booksellers need to also co-operate in joining the committee, and in this way we displaying their new books to teachers can be able to carry out many different and librarians and keep them up to date activities to promote reading habits v ith appropriate books and materials that among school children.%No will also
76 7 create more appropriate programmes acquisition of other skills and the during the National Book Week and ask development of more rational attitudes.It the Television Station to put these on is true that literacy cannot be the entire during that one full week.Programmes purpose of education even at the such as Book Talks, Book Reviews, Story elementary level.But all the other telling, Story reading, etc. elements in the complex of changes to be 1) Finally, as Principal School Library accomplished by education are related to Officer at the National Library,Iwill literacy, though not in a simple and continue to conduct workshops for clearcut way." (Myrdal, 1979: 329) teachers on basic library skills in book selection for school libraries and reading The Philippine government recognizes promotion as this is a necessary activity this role of literacy in combating problems towards the promotion of reading also. of ignorance, poverty, health and others. Probably more often than it was so that This is found in certain provisions of the in this way the teachers are encouraged constitution as well as in some policies of and reminded of the importance of such the Department of Education, Culture and activities and through them the children Sports (DECS). can be encouraged. g)My section will also continue to provide Despite the massive efforts in the Book lists for teachers to use or see the Philippines to achieve literacy, the job of types of appropriate books available for eradicating this problem still remains the children to read.The same can also be main pre-occupation of many educational sent to school librarians for the same planners and policy-makers.Despite the purpose. Philippines' reputation for its high literacy h)These services can be publicized also for rate, data from the National Census and more awareness for teachers and school Statistics Office (NCSO) show thatas of librarians throughout the country 1980, there are still about 5.8 million particularly in the rural areas. Filipinos who can neither readnor write. This number may double everyyear if no Phi 1 ippines corrective measures are instituted. In this literacy campaign, the PRESENT SITUATION OF READING government focuses educative effortson PROMOTION ACTIVITIES IN THE two sets of clientele, namely, children of PHILIPPINES elementary or primary schoolage who should be in school until they complete five or six years of schooling; and out-of- by Lydia P. Lalunio school-youth and adults whoare the object Philippine Normal of literacy, livelihood skills and values College education programmes. The most important indicator of literacy For clienteles in the formal classroom, is the ability to read.This ability to read efforts are being made by thegovernment with understanding can spell the difference to reach the goal of providinga 2:1 book between life and death in our modern print ratio.A textbook project with the close surrounded environment.For instance, coordination between the Philippine Normal an illiterate mother may cause the death College and the Department ofEducation of her child because of her ignorance and Culture and Sports (DECS)was launched failure to comprehend instructions ona to attain this goal. medicine bottle. To realize this objective, the Obviously, advances in literacy and Elementary Learning Continuum (ELC) advances in economic development are containing all the subject skills in all the interrelated. grade level was prepared.This was used as basis in teaching and in writing the Dunnar Myrdal in his book Asian Drama textbooks.All of this was part of the said that 'literacy opens avenues of long range plan in the New Elementary communication that otherwise remain School Curriculum (NESC).At present, closed.Itis a prerequisite for the the emphasis is on the Secondary
74 77 Education Development Programme (SEDP). 1) Basic Literacy Reading was the main focus in this curriculum revision in the elementary and Learners at the zero level literacy need secondary curriculum.The objective was basic literacy intervention system. to make every Filipino child attain the basic and beyond skills in reading. The Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS), through the regional In college, education students working offices, implements the project "Mogbassa for BEED/Bachelor in Elementary Kita" as its main intervention strategy for Education and BSE/Bachelor in Secondary basic literacy training.This literacy Education have Reading 1(Developmental scheme was first developed, tried out and Reading) and Reading 2 (The Teaching of found successful by no less than Senator Reading) subjects to equip them the Santanina Razul in Sulu, Cotabato and reading skills that they can impart to their Zamboanga, areas where the literacy rate pupils.Mistral courses with specialization is below the national average.It in reading are offered to teachers to help advocates the use of phonosyllabic method, them promote and develop good reading a teaching strategy which involves the use habits to their pupils. of sounds and combination of sounds as the learning unit instead of letters and For public school pupils, the problem is combination of letters.This method makes the lack of textbooks for those living in use of the inherent phonetic nature of remote areas.With the change in the Philippine languages which allows one to system of government, new textbooks are one correspondence between written written with values education as the symbol and sound.This method has emphasis.Private book publishers cater to demonstrated that learning time can be the private schools because they are the reduced to at most three months after ones that can afford to buy the books. which the learner is able to read and write simple messages. For individuals who leave school before finishing elementary education and those At present, there is a research to who have never gone to school, literacy determine the effect of phono-syllabic, programmes could be an alternative global method and electric approaches in strategy.The main objective of such teaching literacy classes.The study aims programmes is to provide the participants further to provide insights on the with the basic Cools of literacy and development of programs and projects numerary with which they can continue geared to reduce if not eradicate their learning largely by their own effect. illiteracy.One aspect of this research is It would be a "Learn to read in order to the production of reading materials that read to learn". support each teaching method. There are many innovative programs in 2) Neo-Literacy delivering literacy and post-literacy or basic education.And these are being Learners who have just finished the encouraged by no less than the basic literacy training are usually termed fundamental law of the Philippines itself. neo-literates.If not given opportunities to Article XIV, Sec. 2(4) of the charter use the literacy skills gained, they tend to provides that "The state shall encourage revert to illiteracy. nonformal, informal, and indigenous learning systems, as well as self-learning, The Bureau of Nonformal Education independent, and outof-school study (BN FE) with the help of the Nonformal programs particularly those that respond to Education Division of each regional office community needs." launched a project in setting up reading centers in places most accessible to NEE Literacy program package addresses users.The centers have a modest three need areas as follows: 1) basic collection of literacy materials which are literacy, 2) neo-literacy and 3) post acquired through a small yearly allocation literacy. or donations from private organizations and persons.
78 75 Two years ago, some 300 nonformal depressed areas around Manila.The education personnel all over the country project aims to provide basic literacy and were trained in the development and livelihood skills and thereby promote good production of neo-literacy materials reading habits to make them effective resulting in the production of three kinds member of society.The clientele were of materials which were subsequently . mostly housewives and out-of-school translated to Pilipino, Cebuano and youths.The professors of Philippine Ilocano.Afterwards, they were printed Normal College shared their expertise in and distributed to the various reading teaching basic literacy skills integrated centers.This year, BM-2E sent two with occupational skills and values delegates for further international training education. in the production of materials for neo- literates.As a follow-up activity of this Problems and Proposed Solutions training two national seminars were conducted resulting in the adaptation of No less than the Director of the some of the Asian Cultural Center for Bureau of Nonformal Education, Dr. Unesco (ACCU) materials for neo-literates Remigio P. Romulo admitted the big and their translation into five major problems that are encountered in the Philippine languages.These materials implementation of literacy programs. consisted of charts, posters, comic books on topics considered priority for rural First, there is a dearth of NFE fulltime and/or developing areas, like electricity, teachers who will respond to the needs of water, waste disposal, sanitation, gardening geographically and "socially" isolated and first aid. clientele.Teachers implementing the NFE programs, including the handling of literacy 3) Post Literacy classes, are mostly teachers of the formal system and because of their load, theyare Program activities relating to post unable to fully attend to NFE instruction literacy are intended to continually support and supervision of projects. and enhance literacy skills.These are mainly in the areas of livelihood skills Second, adequate funding for literacy development and related programs like and other NFE courses is necessary, dressmaking, carpentry, culinary arts, especially for the payment of honoraria of animal raising, etc. NFE teachers and other implementors of the project.Not all provinces cities and Several non-government organizations municipalities can appropriate certain have likewise been conducting literacy amounts for the organization of literacy programs.Among these are the Summer and other N FE classes. Institute of Linguistics (SIL), Educational Research and Development Assistance Third, there is a need to coordinate Foundation (ERDA), International Institute closely or complement efforts of of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR), and government organizations (GOs) and non- Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement government organizations (NGOs) in the (PRRM). implementation of literacy and other NFE projects. The Philippine Normal College, the country's premier teacher training Fourth, increased instructional materials institution works closely with the DECS in in different levels of literacy is likewise offering training courses for non formal necessary.Translation of these materials educators and trainers.Both long term to other Philippine languages as needed by and short term courses are offered to train the clientele poses a problem, too. the literacy-trainers on effective literacy strategies and production of literacy Fifth, in certain areas, difficulty in the materials. recruitment of clientele for literacy classes is a problem since they do not Likewise, the Philippine Normal College want to be identified as illiterates. (PNC) Chapter of the Philippine Association of University Women (PAUw) The following solutions are proposed to launched a Literacy Project in three help solve these problems.
76 I) To solve the lack of trained literacy clientele to attend literacy classes. An teachers, coordination can be made to equivalent certificates given in formal colleges and universities offering education schooling.Furthermore to avoid social courses to ask the students to render bias, this alternative system can be opened service to the clientele.These to all and not only to the deprived sector educational institutions can adapt a place of society as the most common stigma where they can help the government in the given to NFE clienteles. literacy campaign.Likewise, retired teachers and socio-civic spirited laymen The changing manpower needs among can be asked to participate in these migrant workers that will require skills literacy projects. retraining can he an aspect that needs further study.The promotion of good 2) The help of the national government reading habits and values education are the and private organizations both local and skills needed by these clienteles. international can be sought.Private companies and factories can be requested with a more concerted effort in to help solve this problem especially if the implementing the proposed recommendations occupational skills taught by the NFE it is expected that more substantial results trainers are needed by the company for in promoting literacy in general, and their employees. reading habits and book development in particular will be realized in the 3) Someone should be designated to succeeding years. effectively coordinate the networking of all literacy activities undertaken by the FUTURE PLANS FOR PROMOTION OF GOs and NGOs.A literacy bill to this READING HABITS IN THE PHILIPPINES effect has been filed in Congress by Senator Razul.These NGOs can be As the officer-in-charge of the Reading encouraged to go to new programs related Department of Philippine Normal College to literacy or go to other places where (PNC), the insightsIlearned from the they are most needed to insure ACCU Training Course on Reading Promotion complementation, economy of scale to and Book Development imbued in me a agencies concerned and avoid duplication sense of responsibility and a commitment to or unhealthy competition. do my best effort in promoting reading habits in my country. 4)For the lack of reading materials, The Philippine Normal College works private publishers can be invited to get closely within the Department of Education, involved in "Adapt a Barangay Reading Culture and Sports (DECS) in educating Center".They will be responsible to future teachers and in updating teaching provide reading materials for the neo- competencies of educators in the field literates.A "Basic Literacy Textbook Call" through offering graduate courses and for private publishers can be launched to holding national seminars and training encourage private publishers to take part workshops on innovative strategies and in the literacy campaign.The best trends in teaching.The New Elementary literacy book can be adapted by the DECS School Curriculum (N ESC) and the for nationwide use in promoting reading Secondary Education Development Program habits. (SEDP) of the DECS give emphasis on the teaching of reading, literature is the focus 5) To solve the lack of interest in in teaching this subject.Hence, this attending literacy classes, instructions and training course on reading promotion is very materials are integrated with functional timely.And since the PNC acts as the occupational skills.Because of the centrix in training teachers, reading diploma/certificate-oriented syndrome of promotion will have a brighter future. In the Filipinos, an alternative learning system this big undertaking, the PNC Reading can be proposed whereby there will be a Department faces a great challenge.As comprehensive equivalency and part of PNC, itis committed to do accreditation scheme for learners/clientele research, teaching and community service. of these alternative learning systems.This will not only bring down the cost of education but will also attract the
80 7 7 Research and Literacy Center country.
As a research center, a research Training Center for Teachers and Student proposal on the setting-up of home libraries Centers in an urban and rural setting will be prepared and submitted for approval of As a training center of future teachers, authorities concerned.The objective of the PNC Reading Department offers Reading this study is to find out how reading habits courses to college or undergraduate can be promoted in rural and urban students.They are trained to write communities through the home libraries. abstracts, summaries, book reviews and write This will be a joint project of the PNC good lesson plans using interesting and Reading Deparment and Library Department effective techniques in teaching reading. with the cooperation of local officials, They are encouraged to get involved in school staff, Parent-Teacher Association and storytelling, booktalks, readers theaters. other personnel/agencies.Children's books Organizations like Reading Circle and Book ritten in Filipino and English will be Lovers Club train them to plan and borrowed from the library, teachers, implement reading promotion activities. parents and other volunteers.Students and These students will apply these skills staff of the Reading Department and when they go to their practice teaching Library Department will coordinate with courses in the Laboratory School parents who arrange these home libraries. Department of PNC under the supervision Meeting the target users of the home of Supervising Instructors and Professors. library will be once a week. Thus, the Reading Department works closely There will be two projects of the same with the school head, teachers, and design and procedure.The first as librarian of the Laboratory School in their mentioned above is concerned with children supervision of reading promotion activities using the home library in urban and rural of both students and children.These setting the second one is a home library traini, g experiences for student teachers and used book mobile for adults and out-of- prepare them to be good reading teachers school youth who are neo-literates.These in the future. are people who have acquired the basic Meanwhile, school heads, teachers and skills in reading but if not given the right librarians of the PNC Laboratory School are practice and the necessary reading invited to help encourage parents through materials, they might revert to illiteracy. their PTA to organize home libraries. They will also meet once a week and their These home libraries organized by parents reading materials will include livelihood of Laboratory school will then serve as skills training.Itis hoped that through models for other home libraries to be this study good reading habits will be organized in the country.Other colleges promoted.The use of kamishibai will and universities offering education courses develop among the children an early love can emulate this set-up in PNC. for literature and this can be imparted to their parents.Since English and Filipino Training Center for Teachers books will be used, the nation's aim of propagating two languages i.e. the Seminars and workshops on promotion maintenance of English and of reading habits using home intellectualization of Filipino will be libraries/bunkos will be conducted in PNC. realized.As part of this study, literacy The Laboratory School Bunko project will materials for both children and adults will he used as a model.Reports on the be developed. researches done by the Reading Department Findings and observations of this in the setting-up of home libraries for research project will he published. DECS children and adults in rural and urban areas officials, outside agencies, publishers and will be taken up in these seminar- multi-media personnel vill be requested to workshops. There will he lecture- observe the positive effects of the home demonstrations in the use of Kamishibai, libraries to the promotion of good reading puppetryand other techniques in reading habits.This step will encourage the promotion.A close coordination with the mus, the public libraries and other DECS will he made so that training of concerned private agencies to adopt the teachers will be done in the national, bunko /home library idea in the whole regional and local levels.
78 81 Promotion of reading habits among neo- above is a great task.It requires the literates will be another aspect of training cooperation of all concerned; but with all and this will include helping literacy eyes focused on the same goal andimbued trainers in teaching strategies and with the high spirit of service, success will preparation of literacy materials.It is not be that far.The journey may be long highly expected that Filipino literature and and difficult but the first step has to be livelihood skills will be promoted in this made.This is a challenge,I am committed way. to accept. Teachers who take up graduate courses in Reading will be encouraged to conduct studies related to reading promotion in Republic of Korea their respective schools and localities. They will be advised to try-out storytelling PROMOTION OF READING HABITS AND techniques and other innovative techniques DEVELOPMENT OF BOOKS that will develop among children a love for reading good books.Involvement in bunko/home libraries will give them good by Ki Young-nae topics for research study. Youl Hwa Dang Publisher Co. Community Involvement Because of the active movement in In the course of a human being's reading promotion to be led by PNC, growth, the juvenile period is often called publishers and writers will be encouraged to 'the mental weaning period'.Therefore, it write and publish good books for children. may be said that their future depends on They can be requested to promote their how the juveniles move towards the publications in school through book formation of self at such an age. exhibits, booktalks and similar activities. They can even donate books to school The most powerful influence affecting libraries or home libraries.Some publishers the juveniles in such an important period can adopt a village library with the help of for the formation of self is the culture of the school and local officials. the society. Professional organizations of teachers and librarians, other socio-civic, In these days when industrial society is educational and religious associations in progressing so rapidly, the majority of local, national and international standing people listen to and watch mass media can help sponsor reading contests, poster- that is easily accessible.Thus, most of making, book programs or seminar-workshops their leisure hours are occupied by for media personnel, publishers, authors, watching television, listening to radio and school personnel and parents on topics reading newspapers and magazines, etc. geared to development of reading habits. Furthermore, ACCU through the Unesco First of all, summaries of several branch in the Philippines can help support remarks made by juveniles concerning the and monitor these reading promotion problems of reading books are as follows: activities for both children and adults. Radio, TV, newspapers and magazines It was revealed that pressure of study can help advertise bunko movement (58%) was the main problem, and the next projects, village libraries, seminars-training was that they were 'Unable to buy or workshops, interviews of reading borrow the books they would like to read' authorities/writers/teachers and (12%), and 'Unable to understand which organizations involved in the reading books would be good for reading' (7%) and activities to promote reading, hencethe the like. help of these media personnel will be sought. In the larger cities (excluding Seoul), a high proportion of students cited 'pressure Conclusion of study' as being the main problem, and the majority of them were in the higher This whole network of activities related grades, both in middle and high school. to promotion of reading habits as cited On the other hand, in the smaller cities,
82 7 9 the higher proportion indicated as the main generation of publishers being registered. problem the fact that they are unable to buy or borrow the books they like to read. Following are the proposals In this context, a summary of the recommended by the publishers:(I) principal obstacles of students reading specialization in juvenile books(2) the books, in the opinion of their teachers, is restraint of low quality publications as follows: exclusively concentrating on making a They considered the main problem to be profit(3) it is necessary to keep the the educational reality of exclusive prices of books down so as to enable the orientation towards entrance examinations students to easily procure them.(4) to (about 73%) followed by TV (about 16%) the publish books that can be of help to the lack of concern by students (approximately students(5) to carry out reading 6%). campaigns(6) to improve the quality of editing and bookbinding of juvenile books, Secondly, the actual situation regarding and so forth. libraries where reading books would be possible is described below: In order to promote reading education: (1) to reform the educational system so According to the "Statistic Report on there is less concentration on the entrance Libraries in Korea" surveyed and announced examination(2) to improve and strengthen by the Korea Libraries Association, the reading guidance in schools(3) to create total number of libraries throughout Korea a social atmosphere (4) to expand the as of April, 1988 was 6,756.Among them, utilization of library facilities(5) 6,329 (93.6%) were school libraries political support is needed. including university libraries while public libraries numbered a mere 175. Finally, itis high time that the direction of educational policy According to the book stock numbers concentrated on qualitative rather than furnished in the libraries, the school quantitative growth, and publishers should libraries possess 45,979,000 books, and the make efforts to realize this goal. public libraries 410,300 (excluding the national central library and the national Itis therefore required that there be assembly library).In the case of the qualitative improvement by the libraries in public libraries, which are more important their choice of books and that a campaign in that they are used by the general to promote good books should be actively public, it was revealed that the users per pursued at the same time. library totalled 240,081 and users per seat 474, therefore the number of books used For example, the Publication Culture per person come to no more than 0.098. Association should make all-out efforts to Therefore, itis essential that the efforts distribute good books through selecting of the authorities concerned to expand thL both juvenile books and the books necessary facilities should be intensified. recommended by the Ministry of Culture and Information.Large bookstores such as To look at the situation of publication Korea Educational Insurance Book Store in the 1980s, among the newly-published have been currently endeavouring to books of some 134,000 kinds during the promote good books by offering a prize for period of 10 years, 67% of them were book design. reference books. Although the number of publishers totalled 4,726, not all of these publishers necessarily fulfill their functions.For example, in 1988, out of total of 4,397 publishers, more than half of them (50.6%) did not publish even a single book, while 28.3% did publish 1-5 kinds of hooks. On the other hand, only 3.9% (179 publishers) published more than 50 kinds.These tendencies could be due to a new 60 83 Republic of kw-a circumstances require.Beyond that an 'after-reading impression writing contest', 'composition contest' etc. are also held. PRESENT SITUATION AND PROBLEMS And, in addition, as reference books to OF CHILDREN'S READING PROMOTION guide readers ,'Children and Reading', ACTIVITIES IN KOREA 'Reading Education' etc. are being published. byOh Jung Since 1976, the Korean Publishers Korea Froebel Association has appointed May 1st - 7th as Publisher Co. 'a week for children's reading':This aims to increase social interest in children's The publication of children's books has reading, and to provide them with good shown an explosive increase since 1979, the books. year for the children of the world, as a turning point inits advancement. During the same week, such events as a Currently about 22% of the total 'children's book exhibition'memorial publications fall into the category of seminar', 'book collection for the children children's books, which, hence, may be said of remote islands', etc. are held. to comprise a most important share of our publication. And, some pointers concerning reading material, reading environment, and reading Also, for this period, the market for education are suggested through seminars children's books has begun to diversify, so as to contribute to uplifting the and the publication of domestic creations national interest. has started in earnest.Nov., sub- classifications of 'books for young Although, in addition to the mentioned. children' etc. according to editing movements, religious institutions are also processes classified by age are being implementing reading programmes, there is conducted.Besides, there also appear much room for improvement due to the some kinds of positive transfiguration: for lack of close relations between the family, example, 'philosophical juvenile stories' for school and library. children are actively being published. Major Problems Which Become Obstacles But, the problem lies in the fact that Preventing Children's Reading Habits whereas the market for children's book publications has increased in relation to Parents or teachers suffer from the size of the reading population, the difficulty in selecting recommendable books quality still leaves much to be desired. for children, chiefly for want of children's book information. Thus, movements to promote desirable children's reading habits are being There is a shortage of libraries for introduced as follows: children in general.Most publishing companies are concentrating on publication The Children's Library of Seoul opens a for commercial purposes. 'reading class' five times a year under the management of the National Central There is no institution or system at Library.For children in the 3rd to Gth governmental level that can act as a years of elementary school, how to lead, necessary centripetal force for the reading how to write after-reading impressions, how movement. to use the library, how to select books, how to write on manuscript paper etc. are Action-- Plans for Promoting Reading Habits taught from the viewpoint of everyday reading practice. Some educational programmes aimed at parents, teachers and librarians should he Also the 170 public libraries of the formulated.Catalogues of good hooks nation are holding 'reading classes', making should be drawn up and distributed to the best of such opportunities as the families so that parents might he able to summer and .inter vacations as recommend more appropriate hooks to
8.1 81 children.Also, in school, some course that involved in the promotion of reading habits demands teachers' further knowledge of in the country. essential children's books should be included, and separate class hours for State Organizations students' reading practice should be apportioned into the curriculum, so that 1.National Book Development Council of Sri the importance of reading education might Lanka be recognized. The National Book Development Council Publishing companies have to (NBDC) of Sri Lanka was set up in 1974. extirpate/reject publications of purely Prior to 1972 the 'Ceylon Book Trust' commercial orientation, have to recognize (established in 1958) was entrusted with the that the content and quality of the book responsibilities of the present NBDC.In determines the child's reading habits, and 1974 the Ceylon Book Trust was converted to have to develop such books as conform to the present NBDC by changing it's structure the changing developmental levels of as well as giving it more responsiblities. children.For this are required charming The NBDC has been active in the field of and interestingly designed hooks book development during the last 15 years. which can engage children's interests; The main activities of this organization are: having experts, who have studied 'child Publishing of children's literature. psychology' and 'colour effect' Organizing workshops, seminars and professionally participate in publishing; and training courses for persons in the field assistance and concern for prominent such as writers, publishers and illustrators and designers who have majored illustrators. in child education. Organizing exhibitions and other activities related to hook promotion. Children's libraries need to be managed Holding of annual competitions ar,d the in such a manner that they be places of distribution of awards to winners. community life to which more children can easily gain access through systematic Although the NBDC is presently activities and facility-enlarging processes, performing some important tasks in the field, supported by political assistance.Effec- there is a general feeling among the public tive reading movement campaigns that that it's performance is lacking and is not promote our recognition of the concept of upto expectations.A number of children's books and the importance of organizational defects hinder it's progress. reading should be carried out by means of Prominent among these are that as a such mass media as radio, T.V. and video. organization it was not provided with adequate powers or financial resources to An institution at governmental level, carry out the numerous responsibilicies which can implement a positive reading assigned to it.Also the staff of the NBDC education policy and be fully responsible is limited to just four members.The only for it,is needed for the solution of these professional post in the organization is that problems. of the Director.During the past couple of years this post has been filled by a Sri Lanka professional who works only on a part time basis.The present Government has taken note of these defects in the organization and BOOK DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AND is presently considering the necessary PROMOTION OF READING HABITS IN remedial measures. SRI LANKA 2.Library Services Board (SLNLSB) by Upali Amarasiri The SLNLSB was set up in 1970 with wide Sri Lanka National powers to develop the library services of the Library Services Board country.'Developing Reading Material'is one of it's basic responsibilities.The SLNLSB is engaged in the following Sri Lanka has a number of state and activities with a view to developing reading private organizations which are actively habits in the country.
82 85 Establishing the National Library of Sri holding exhibitions, conducting seminars and Lanka. workshops and maintaining a dialogue with Developing a National Library Service. the Government on various issues pertaining Improving of school, public, departmental to the subject.These two associations act and special libraries in the country. as pressure groups in this field. Book publishing and distributing programmes. 5.Sri Lanka Library Association Holding of book exhibitions. Sales of books at specially reduced prices. Established in 1960 the Library Association Conducting workshops, training is mainly engaged in education activities of programmes and seminars for librarians, librarians.A part time training programme writers, publishers and others involved in for librarians is conducted by this the field of book development. Association. In addition to the above a number of The SLNLSB is actively involved in Non-Governmental Organizations too are developing library services in the country. involved with promoting reading habits in Sri The National Library of Sri Lanka which is Lanka,The Sri Lanka Centre for the apex organization of the country's Development Studies - popularly known as library system has just been set up.It the Marga Institute has a special publishing assists all types of libraries in a number of scheme for school children apart from it's ways - in setting standards, giving main publications project which concentrates professional advice, distributing books and on subject areas pertaining to development other library materials and conducting studies.There are also a number of foreign training programmes for librarians. agencies and institutions maintaining libraries The Book Publishing Programme is one of in urban areas, especially in the capital city the most successful projects of the SLNLSB. and these are well patronized by readers This programme is considered to be the best from all walks of life. State assisted publishing programme to be implemented in Sri Lanka. 6.School Libraries Under it's Book Distribution Programme the SLNLSB distributes a large number of The school library sector in Sri Lanka is hooks among small school and public libraries still rather weak.Although there are about which do not have the required financial 10,000 schools in the country only 25% of resources to purchase books.During 1987 them have library facilities.This is a major and 1988 over 250,000 books were distributed drawback in developing reading habits in the under this programme. country.Presently the SLNLSB has launched a major school library development project in 3.Education Publication Department the country with assistance from the Central Government and the Provincial The Education Publication Department Administration.Activities of the SLNLSB concentrates on printing and distributing under this programme include opening of new school text books and other relevant_ school libraries, distribution of library books material to school children. Every school and equipment, training school librarians, going child in Sri Lanka receives free text formulating library standards, book mobile books from the government.The present service and book exhibitions. population of school children is about four million and more than 20 million text hooks 7.Public Libraries are printed and distributed annually by this Department. Public libraries play an important role in the development of reading habits in the 4.Publishers Associations of Sri Lanka country.With the introduction of the decentralized administration the organization Publishers in Sri Lanka are organized of public libraries have also undergone a under two publishers associations.They arc change.The SLNLSB has just introduced a the Sri Lanka Book Publishers Association new public library development plan at and the Publishers Association of Sri Lanka. provincial level.The highlights of the plan They are actively involved in activities are: related to promoting reading habits in the -Provincial library authority country.Presently their major activities are -Library legislation at provincial level 83 86 Compulsory financial allocation for The project which is referred to as the libraries Book Development Project of the SLNLSB Central provi cial library as the centreof was started in 1984.A considerable the provincial library network deterioration in Sri Lanka's publishing industry is evident during the latter part of Most of the drawbacks of the present the 1970s and the early part of the 1980s. library systems are expected to disappear The high cost of paper and printing material, with the implementing of the new system. the monopolizing of the industry by a few publishing houses and the shrinking market Role of ACCU in Developing Reading Habits made publishing prohibitive for many writers. in Sri Lanka The publishers blamed this situation on the Government decision to print school text During the last two decades the ACCU books.Prior to this, publishing and selling has played a significant role in developing of school text books were handled by the reading habits in Sri Lanka.A considerable commercial publishers.This brought them a number of persons attached to Government considerable profit.This enabled the departments and institutions as well as the publishers to divert a part of this profit as private sector have benefitted by following capital for publishing other reading material training programmes in this fiela conducted some of which were not commercially viable. by the ACCU.These persons have organized At the same time book stores were well seminar, workshops, exhibitions and other patronized by the public due to the activities with the knowledge and expertize availability of text books and the public gained at the ACCU.Information of the tended to buy other reading materials at the most recent developments in the field and in same time as well. other countries in the region are given in the ACCU's newsletter ABD and other The main features of the Book occasional publications.This helps Sri Lanka Development Project of the SLNLSB are as to formulate it's own programmes and follows: strategies in the field. 1.The writers or publishers can submit Problems Hampering the Promotion of manuscripts for consideration. Reading Habits in Sri Lanka 2. There is no limit of the subject or scope The major problems can be listed as except in a few categories; e.g. books on follows: question and answer form, school text books Scarcity of reading material etc. High cost of reading material Weak distribution network 3.Manuscripts in all three languages; Examination oriented teaching/learning Sinhala, Tamil and English are accepted. Negative attitude towards reading Weak promotion activities 4.Each manuscript is sent to a competent Defects in the main State organizations person for the purpose of obtaining a responsible for book promotion comprehensive report.The identities of the Lack of encouragement and motivation author and the reader are kept strictly from teachers and parents confidential. Weak publishing industry Inadequate purchasing power among 5.Based on the report given by the reader the public a decision on the manuscript is taken by the Lack of a coordinated effort to interest Book Development Committee of the the public on the value of reading SLNLSB.This committee consists senior Dearth of talented writers officials of the SLNLSB as well as leading and recognized personnel of various Book Development Project of the SLNLSB disciplines.The committee accepts, rejects or sends the manuscript back to the author As an official attached to the SLNLSF3 I for revision.The report of the reader giving like to give you the details of the projects the suggested revis1s is sent to the author on promoting reading habits in the country along with the manuscript.The manuscript presently implemented by the SLNLSB. is accepted by the committee only when itis satisfied with the revisions made on the 84 87 manuscript.On the other hand if the million (US$200,000) have been distributed suggested revisions are not accepted by the among rural and economically weak libraries author he is given an opportunity of in 1987/8.This has made a great impact on explaining the reasons to the committee. the development of reading habits among school children and the rural population. 6. The accepted manuscripts are next handed over to the printing committee of the Another benefit of the project is that due SLNLSB.This committee consists of five to the high standards of the books published members who are well versed with the under the project, the commercial publishers technical details of book production such as also have been compelled to improve their printing, designing, illustration, etc.This standards.With the increased competition committee is entrusted with laying down the prices of books have also declined.Other standards to be adhered in printing. state organizations such as the National Book Development Council, the State Printing The SLNLSB has laid down some Corporation and the National Institute of standards which are compulsory for all Education also began publishing books after publications assisted by them.These include observing the success of the project of the printing on high quality white paper, wire SLNLSB.They also offer to publish books section binding, covers of high quality art of high quality which are low priced. board, three colour print on the cover, pictures of high quality (if any) and the The SLNLSB was selected as the National adherence to the accepted standards in ISBN Agency which helped to improve it's arranging the title page, ISBN, etc.The stature in the field.The SLNLSB selects author is at liberty to discuss and clarify books published under this scheme and these standards with the printing committee. awards prizes annually under the categories The SLNLSB insists that all publications of best novel, best short story book and best under this project should follow these high children's book.Awards are also given to standards.Upon setting the printing the best cover, best design, best illustration, standards the printing committee decides the etc.This helps to maintain a high standard pricing of the book under consideration. and is an encouragement to all sections of the book trade.The high standard of the 7.Thereafter an agreement is signed publications of the SLNLSB is evident by between the SLNLSB and the author or these publications receiving most of the publisher of the book.Under this agreement coveted state literary festival awards since the SLNLSB agrees to purchase 1,000 copies 1985. 1988 was a very successful year as of the printed book or copies to the value all the state literary awards were won by of Rs. 25,000/- whichever is lower, once the publications of the SLNLSB. printing has been completed.Once the book is printed the publisher is required to submit Yet another important aspect of the a sample copy to the printing committee for project is that the 'Expert report' on the its approval.After obtaining the approval manuscript, enables the writers to get very the author or publisher is required to deliver valuable suggestions to improve the quality the rest of the books to the SLNLSB and of the books.At times they are made to obtain the grant. revise practically the whole manuscript. This is extremely valuable to young authors Under this project the SLNLSI3 annually as it helps tremendously to improve the assists 100 to 125 publications.This is quality of the book. considered to be a considerable number in a small country like Sri Lanka.Presently Through the Book Development Project about 600 books have been published under the SLNLSB has introduced about 100 new this project and this is considered a authors to the local readers and the book tremendous boost to the local publishing world.This has led to the discovery of a industry. large number of hitherto unknown authors who had up to now remained an untapped The benefits of the project do not end human resource of the country.Without here.The books purchased under this assistance from the project the majority of project are distributed free of charge among them would never have had an opportunity to all school and public libraries.About become writers.Presently most of them 250,000 books to the value of about Rs. 8 have established themselves as writers and
88 are able to publish their books without the these activities and avoid duplications assistance of the SLNLSB or other such overlapping. institution. Then we would consider formulating As part of the project the SLNLSB national level planning in the field. conducts seminars, workshops and short term Consulting all the national level organisations training courses for authors.At these we are to formulate a short term national seminars experts discuss various aspects of plan as well as a long term national plan and writing, publishing and printing.These are identify the role and activities of each considered to be of immense value to authors organisation in this plan. to improve their writing abilities. iksthe National Library, our main concern The SLNLSB intends to expand the is on the development of library services in project further in the future.Presently the the country.We will take the leadership of Book Development Council is housed in the introducing library legislation and formulating SLNLSB building and the two organizations library standards.This will facilitate an work very closely to improve the Book active and strong library service. Since the Development and reading habits in Sri Lanka. provincial councils have the power and responsibility over school and public library PLANS OF PRACTICAL ACTIONS FOR services, we will advice and assist them in PROMOTING READING HABITS IN SRI formulating library legislations and standards. LANKA Provincial level we intend to introduce Since I am working in the National central provincial libraries.These central Library of Sri Lanka or at the Sri Lanka libraries will be the local points of the National Library Services Board, my plans provincial library services.School and public for practical actions will be centered in the libraries and other libraries in the provinces National Library of Sri Lanka. will be greatly benefitted by the central library service. The Sri Lanka National Library Services Board is already engaged with a number of One of the major draw back of the publishing, book distribution and reading library service in Sri Lanka is that the promotional activities besides the library service has not been user oriented.We will work.I hope to expand and strengthen try to change this attitude throughtraining these activities and start a number of new programmes and library standard.we hope activities too. to develop a user oriented library services which will directly cater for the needs of We have just moved into the New the users. National Library of Sri Lanka.Therefore the main taskI am concerned is to organise and National Library is already engaged with strengthen the National Library.We would publishing activities.We hope to expand it like to have a strong National Library to by publishing more and quality books.Other give the leadership in Library, book than this we hope to translate and publish development and reading promotional appropriate ACCU materials too. activities. I hope to complete the organising activities of the National Library by early We have a leaaing role in book 1990.After that we intend to introduce new distribution in Sri Lanka.We provide National Library Act which gives more power readers free of charge to many libraries. We to the National Library clearly defining its want to develop and improve this service by activities.Then the National Library will be providing more books to libraries.We will able to give a proper leadership in the field. open a separate 'book center' attached to the National Library where cheap and quality There are a number of national level hooks are available. organisations doing various kinds of reading promotional or allied activities.National Present training center for librarians, Book Development Council, copyright office, publishers, writers etc. will he strengthened. educational publiction department, associations of publishers, book sellers, More reading promotional activities will librarians etc.lk e intend to co-ordinate all be organised.Book exhibitions, book fairs,
86 89 poster campaigns will be organised. produce good material for children's We intend to use mass media especially programs and also gives annual awardsfor the T.V. as a reading promotional media. the best radio and television programs for children.With the cooperation of the enterprises that sponsor the programs and Th a ind with support from the government, more children's programs have been initiated and READING AND READING PROMOTION many good programs are now being IN THAILAND produced. One important method to promote reading is by providing library services. Three major types of libraries in Thailand by Supannee Varatorn that provide reading materials and services Chulalongkorn Univ. to people both adults and children are school, public and national libraries.These In Thailand, although books were libraries organize various kinds of introduced over hundred years and library activities to promote reading among people services began over 50 years ago, they as library week, book talks, story tellings, have had a slow development.Not until exhibitions, reading contests, quizzes and 1977, the International Book Year, was, puppet shows.School libraries also there much improvement in book provide hours for instruction to the use of production, in promoting reading and in books and libraries to promote children to providing library and information services read and to help them benefit more from to people. reading. People in the city and suburban areas In the rural communities, the promotion have better opportunities to read than of reading among people is done through those in the rural areas because books are village reading centers and book mobiles easy to obtain.Unfortunately, television units. and radio, which are rivals of books are The village book reading center is a wide spread and very influential on them. small library service unit designed to serve To increase the production of good people in the rural areas to prevent them reading materials and due to the shortage from becoming illiterate after finishing of good reading materials for children schools, to keep them informed and to many government agencies and associations promote reading.The collection usually have taken part in the promotion of good consists of at least two newspapers and books and reading.Many good children's some other reading materials which always books were published and distributed to comprise donated books and magazines, and schools and libraries.Awards and prizes sometimes children's books. were given to outstanding authors and The mobile library in 1 hailand is a way Publishers of many kinds of books for all to bring book and reading materials to groups of readers.The major government those who would otherwise have no bodies concerned with these activities are opportunity to read or use the library. the committee for Reading Materials Mobile libraries are provided for people in Planning Project at Pre-School Level and rural areas and for some disadvantaged the National Book Dev,qopment Council of groups of people in the city, such as those the Ministry 3f Educat..on. living in slums and workers in factories. An impertant activity for promoting Form of the mobile unit varies according good books and reading is the annual to the area served.As a result there are award for best books of all kinds during book mobile by boats. automobiles and National Book Week.Besides government motorcycles.Boats are used in some agencies, some associations and private provinces in the central part of the .enterprises also take part in the promotion country where rivers and canals are used of hooks and reading by organizing book for communication.Automobiles arc used contests (especially for children's books), in Bangkok and motorcycles in rural areas. exhibitions, book fairs, and radio and In areas where there are no roads, book television programs for children. An bags are hand-carried.Although the outstanding one among these bodies is the service is popular, without sufficient Child's Mass Media Promotion Project. financial support, the service which is This project organizes seminars on how to time, money and energy consuming, is
90 87 sporadic. of people.The feedback from the The promotion of reading among people audiences showed that the program was in Thailand is now in progress especially interesting and the radio station had among children.This progress is resulted offered an extension of the program. by an increased awareness of the b) The speakers and the person importance of children to the country's interviewed were carefully selected to suit future and by the many projects initiated the topics.They must be expert or key and carried out by both government and person on the topic so that they could private organizations.However, there are give the best information on the benefit of still many obstacles that affect the the audiences.On the other hand they success of their efforts. would realize the importareof reading and reading promotion more than they ever did Activities in Promoting Reading Habits before. c) The guest speakers and the person I have participated in various kinds of interviewed in the program were famous activities for reading promotion.They persons.Some among them were national were library visits with children's award winning writers, best seller programs, children's book exhibition, translator, national artist, scholar, p hysician slide/tape production on children's reading and senior government officer.The fact and stories for children and radio program. that these persons were willing to All these activities were done on voluntary participate in the program implied that basis.Some programs were supported by they had realized the importance of Chulalongkorn University.The activities reading and reading promotion. that were considered successful were the radio program and the children's books 2.Children's Books Exhibition exhibition.The programs that were not successful were the library visits. In 1986,Ihad organized an three week exhibition on children's books in the name Successful Programs: of the Department of Library Science in cooperation with the A.U.A. Library and 1.Radio Program "Worthy Reading" the USIS. In1986,Ihad initiated a radio program The children's books exhibition was for the promotion of reading and reading considered successful for these reasons: habits among people both children and 1) 1.. could aroused widespread attention. -,dults.The name of the program which Over thousand of people adults and learly conveyed its purposes and scope children had joined in the program.News A-as "Worthy Reading" or "Atli Hai hum" in on the exhibition was reported in a Thai.The program was supported by the newspapers and some part of the scripts Continuing Education Project of were published (with permission) in a Chulalongkorn University and was magazine. broadcasted on the university radio station 2)It stimulated the administrators of the every Sunday morning for six months.The faculty and the university to pay more program consisted of 26 topics on hooks. attention on the role of promoting reading authors, groups of readers and reading. habits as one of the institution's duty in Each topic corresponded with either an serving the public. event of the year or the people's interest of the time.As head of the project and Obstacles coordinator of the program, my responsibilities covered the preparation of 1) The major obstacle in organizing the the topics, the selection of guest speakers children's hook exhibition was short period and the person to be interviewed, the and rigid hours of opening according to an writing of scripts, and was also an official hours which deprived some groups interviewer and narrator for half of the of people from attending the exhihition. topics in the program. 2) The exhibition of foreign hooks of very The reasons for considering the radio good quality although were very attractive program "Worthy Reading" as successful could also discourage some people to read were as follows: Thai books which were inferior in quality. a) The coverage of the program was wide 3) The need for man power to prepare the enough to make it interesting to all groups exhibition.This obstacle would be the
88 91 most serious if the program was not those in other developing countries are the performed under the cooperation with the inadequacy of good reading materials for all other agencies and was without students groups of people, inadequacy of libraryand volunteered to do all kinds of IA orks library services especially in the rural assigned. areas, insufficiency of reading promotion among children by teachers and parents. Unsuccessful Programs: Regarding the reading situation in Thailand which still confront many The visits to libraries problems, as a university lecturer with some The visits to school and public libraries experience in doing research & survey, were organized occasionally as part of the writing, and radio program production, my courses: public libraries, reading and plans of actions Lo promote reading habits readers and children's literature.Some of are in 2 features, 1st - my own activities the library visits were done when I was a and 2nd - suggestions to other groups and member in the committee on "The Book institutions. Bank Project" under the Higher Education Women 's Association of Thailand.The My own activities visits usually accompanied by children 's programs such as story telling and puppet Iplan to carry on activities for reading show and books as gifts to the libraries. promotion in 6 aspects. These activities were considered 1.Researches and surveys on reading unsuccessful in promoting reading habits materials needed by various groups of for these reasons: readers. 1. The visits were occasionally done so 2.Organizing workshops or training cow-ses they were inconsistent that made it on the production of new reading materials difficult to evaluate for any improvement. such as cloth-books, kamishibai and books 2. There was no primary study on reading for neo-literates, and on reading programs interest and needs of the people in the for children such as a paper play, story area which might not be the same as what telling and book talks. had known. 3.Organizing exhibitions to stimulate the 3. The technical problem in organizing an production of good reading materials for activity is an over crowded atmosphere. some group of readers who are handicapped, The people in the provinces especially the for example children and the neo-literates children were interested in the program so and to promote reading among them. much that too many of them participated 4.Writing articles on books, reading and in the programs which resulted in crowded reading promotion activities and book atmosphere that was unpleasant and very reviews for journals and newspapers to difficult to control.To solve the problem, stimulate reading among all groups of the children were divided into groups and readers and among those who are involved having one student to handle them by story in these fields. telling, book talk and games. 5.Producing radio and television programs Despite these problems, the activities for reading promotion in cooperation with were very useful for training students on academic institutions and associations. the works of reading promotion. 6.Producing various kinds of reading materials for children such as picture PLAN OF ACTIONS FOR PROMOTING books, translation of classic works and READING HABITS IN THAILAND awarded books for children, cloth-books and kamishibai based on Thai stories. Present situations of reading habbits in Thailand Suggestions and Proposals People in the cities and suburban areas As a university instructor, without have better chance to read than those in authority for direct changes or improvement the urban or rural areas because hooks are for reading promotion, I could make easy to obtain.However, television and suggestions to those who are involved in radio are also widespread 'and this field: the government, academic influential on them. institutions, publishers and book traders and Some major problems in reading librarians bypublicizing research results, promotion in Thailand which are similar to and articles in journals and newspapers, and
92 8J also through radio programs. to provincial and district centres.And there are travelling groups of booksellers, 1.The government should provide sufficient going to remote areas, even to budget for the provision of school and mountainous regions.Besides, the network public lib,-iries throughout the country, to of the libraries is as wide as the hire more qualified librarians in school and distribution network.One of the biggest public libraries and to establish or improve libraries of our country is the National village reading centers and hook mobiles Library in Hanoi.It has about 1,000,000 throughout the country. volumes, magazines and periodicals, and every year, it serves from 80 to 90 2. The academic institutions should promote thousand readers.It has books, reviews, or sponsor research and survey on reading dictionaries for various branches of habits among all groups of Thai people, and sciences and culture in major languages. to cooperate with the publishers in doing Libraries of the provinces or districts are research on reading materials in Thailand. financed by the State.Libraries in villages and of schools are established with 3. The publishers and the book traders the local inhabitants' assistance. should utilize research results for book production, they should provide bookshops in The Kim Dong Publishing House keeps all major districts throughout the country contact with the libraries and the and improve book distribution system to Corporation for Book Distribution.Our enable to books .to reach everyone. editors sometimes make trips to remote areas in order to gather readers' opinion 4.Editors of journals and magazines should about our books, their needs and provide book review columns according to requirements.We cooperate with them to the subject field of their publications and conduct the activities of promotion of the readers' interest.The Thai Library reading habits such as brochures on mass Association and The Association of media, books, reviews in the reading room Publishers should cooperate with editors of of libraries, organizing competitions among newspapers to provide lists or abstracts of children about book reading or story- new books in their publications. retelling and so on. 5.School and public libraries should However these activities are not organize more reading programs.The public regular and only concentrated on some library should cooperate with parents and areas and are often aimed at making our community leaders in organizing library achievements known to everybody. programs and the school libraries should cooperate with school teachers in using And yet these activities have fallen books and reading both for education and into decline. recreation purposes. Now we have a broader view on the publication of books.A great deal of Piet .Vann books from the West as well as the East have been translated and published here. PROMOTION OF READING HABITS IN Book markets are booming.Central and VIETNAM provincial publishing houses have showered books on the market.This has been seen as a positive and encouraging factor, as by Bui Viet Bac people started to havL access to Kim Dong Publishing masterpieces of human cultural treasure. House Formerly, people sometimes had nothing to read except a handful of dull and The promotion of reading habits is boring books.Writers have been considered to be especially important in encouraged in their creations, reflecting cultural development in our country. life in its multisided complexity.That is Previously the prices of books were why their off springs have appealed to subsidized by the State.The network of readers. book distribution spreads from the Capital
90 93 Nevertheless this situation has brought categories of publications. about reverse, negative effects.Some publishing houses, taking advantage of As a children's book publisher we are shortcomings in book censorship, turned out conscious that authors and publishers vicious and harmful books promoted should heighten their sense of responsibility violence, sex, described criminals as heroes for the younger generation.Books written with obscene scenes, which is harmful to for children should be sound and clear, ethic and esthetic education.Many attractive, the design and cover must be readers have voiced their protests against alluring.They must be printed on high this phenomenon on the press; as a result, quality paper with easy-to-read types. itis now under control. Printing technique must not be neglected. We must fight against vicious books. Another difficulty arising from this Parents and teachers should be aware of situation is the fact that books have the importance of reading habits so that become a commodity of free competition, they could encourage their children to read our Publishing House has managed to more books. secure its existent. As far as children are concerned our The system of State subsidization was opinion is that fairy tales, books on abolished.Various Publishing Houses and history, fighting, adventures, crimes, the Corporation for Book Distribution have detective could be useful, provided that to work on a self-financing basis.Thus they are created and used in a proper book prices depend to a large extent on way.The Government should render more paper and printing costs and the book assistance to the distributing network and becomes rather dear in comparison with libraries to improve their activities. people's average income.In bookshops we can see many children thirsty for hooks Children should be given encouragement but can not afford to buy them. and guidance on what to read and how to read. Apart from economic difficulties, many children in rural areas have little MY PLAN ON PROMOTION OF READING opportunity for book reading.They have HABITS IN MY COUNTRY to work to assist their parents, who, for some reason or other, do not encourage How to promote reading habit in my them to read. country is a big problem and L. dependent on many factors.But Itry to outline some In the past, people bought fairly suggestions. numerous books to read.But now their purchising power has reduced; so millions 1.Improve distribution activity. of copies are now left unused in the Distribution network should be developed stores of the Corporation for Book and its function should be improx ed. l3ook Distribution.Bookshops are houses exhibitions, book fairs, book weeks ... should compelled to trade things other than hooks he held more frequently. for their survival. 2.Improve the school libraries and every The booming of video recorders and school should have a library.We should games on electronic devices have, to some organize Bunko for children and try to make extent, turned children's mind away from activity in libraries to he more enjoyable. reading. State should finance more for librarian activity. Under this circumstance and a part of budget reduction libraries' activities tend 3.Improve quality of children's books. to be lessened. Quality of children's hook is very important.Every year, author of the hest In order to overcome these difficulties, book for children should he awarded.The our Publishing House has proposed that best instructor, the best translator also children's hooks be partly subsidized, the should be awarded. Honorarium for children's Corporation for Book Distribution also hooks should be 20% lighter than honorarium asked the Sta 4e to subsidize some for adults books.
94 91 Try to hold camp on writing children's books for writers every year. In Viet Nam so far we have almost no books for children of agefrom 3-5 year. This kind of book should be made and, picture books in colour should be increased. Useful books for children especially science books should be subsidized by state. Translation Agency or such should be held to exchange informations with many countries about best books in order to help publishing books in choosing exactly best books to translate.
4.Increase using mass media for advertising and, reviewing books. The price of book (even children's) advertising on T.V. in our country is as high as any other scrts of advertising.We should propose T.V. Board to decrease the price of advertisement for book,at least children's books advertisement. So far we have no regular book program on T.V.Ithink there should be one or No times a week and shot Id try to make this program interesting, especially on children's books.Parents and T.V. Board have to take measures to encourage children to read at the same time.
5.Parents roles in promotion reading habits for childrens. First of all parents should recognize the importance of reading habits. Parents should read and retell books to small children.
G. More librarians, authors and book related pc"sonnels should be trained. activities should he trained.
92 95 APPENDIX : Programme Schedule
17 Nov. Fri. Japan Library Association)
10:00 Leave hotel for ACCU 12:00-13:00 Lunch 10:30 Registration 11:00-11:40 Opening ceremony 13:00-14:30 "Development of Reading 11:45-13:00 Welcome party Promotion Movement in 13:15-14:00 "Introduction to ACCU" Japan" by Mr. Kenichi Ino 14:00-14:20 Tea/Coffee Break (Secretary General of the 14:20-15:20 Course Orientation Japan Council for Promotion of Book Reading) 18 Nov. Sat. 15:15-17:00 Visit to National Diet 9:30-12:30 Presentation of the Library participants' reports: "Present situation of reading 22 Nov. Wed. promotion activities and problems in promoting 9:30-12:30 "Conducting and Developing reading habits in Asia and Home Libraries for Children" the Pacific" by Ms. Yoshiko Takenaka (continued) (Tokyo Children's Library) 12:30-14:00 Lunch 12:30-14:00 Lunch 14:00-17:00 Presentation of the participants' reports 14:00-17:00 "How to Edit Children's Books creative books and 19 Nov. Sun. Holiday science books" by Mr. Kiyoshi Soya (Editor, 20 Nov. Mon. Fukuinkan Shoten Publishers) Mr. Shigeru Yamato (Editor, 9:30-12:30 "Creating Picture Books" by Fukuinkan Shoten Publishers) Mr. Seizo Tashima (Artist, Author-illustrator of Picture 23 Nov. Thu. Books) 9:30-12:30 "Roles of School Libraries 12:30-14:00 Lunch given by the Director and Actual State in Japan" General of ACCU by Ms. Yoshie Nagai (Librarian, Kuwata Lower 14:00-17:00 "Children's Development and Secondary School, Okayama) Books" by Ms. Hiroko Sasaki (Professor of the Naruto 12:30-13:30 Lunch Educational College) 13:30-15:00 "Promotion of Reading Habits 17:10 Leave ACCU for a reception and Utilization of Materials by the Association of Young of the Asian/Pacific Joint Children's Education Production Programme of Materials for Neo-literates 21 Nov. Tue. (A.1P)"
9:30-12:00 "Reading Promotion Activities 15:00 Leave for Hachioji and Libraries in Japan" by (University Seminar House) Mr. Hitoshi Kurihara (Secretary General of the
96 9 3 24 Nov. Fri. World of Reading - Matsudo Ohanashi Caravan" by Ms. a.m. "How to Succeed in Yoshiko Hamashima Promoting Reading Habits in (Director, Matsudo Ohanashi Asia and the Pacific" (by Caravan) NP-Method in 3 groups) 17:30-19:00 Visit to Japan Braille Library 14:30 Visit to Kinuno-michi Bunko (home library) 29 Nov. Wed. P.m. "Practical Actions for 9:30-12:30 "Creation and Effective Promoting Reading Habits" Presentation of Picture Plays (Kamishibai)" by Ms. Noriko 25 Nov. Sat. Matsui (Author/Illustrator of Children's Books and a.m. Plenary session Kamishibai) Lunch 12:30-13:30 Lunch 13:00 Leave Hachioji (University Seminar House) 13:30-17:30 "Creation and Effective ''resentation of Picture Plays 14:00-15:30 Observation visit to Tama (Kamishibai)" (continued) Public Library (Bunko Festival, Lecture by Mr. 18:30 Friendship gathering with the Shunsaku Umeda, author- group "I in Asia" (group illustrator of children's for pormoting friendship books) among Asian people) 26 Nov. Sun.Holiday 30 Nov. Thu. 27 Nov. Mon. 9:00-11:00 Visit to Aijitsu Primary School 10:30 Visit to Kodansha Publishers (discussion with the editors) 12:00-13:00 Lunch
12:00-17:00 Symposium: 12:00 Lunch given by Kodansha (at "Influence of Comics and Chin zanso) Television on Forming Rea-ling Environment" 15:00-18:00 "Social, Cultural and Educational Development in 1 Dec. Fri. Planning for Practical Asia and the Pacific Region Actions for Promotion of and Roles and Problems of Reading Habits Reading Promotion" by Dr. Arifin Bey (Professor of the 2 Dec. Sat. Kanda University of Foreign 3 Dec. Sun. Observation tour to Kyoto Studies) 4 Dec. Mon. and Nara 28 Nov. Tue. 5 Dec. Tue.
09:30-12:30 "Utilization of Mass Media 10:00-12:00 Final Discussion for Reading Promotion" by 12:00-12:30 Closing Ceremony Mr. Yasuo Ueda (Assistant 12:30-14:00 Farewell Party Professor,Sophia Univ., Editor, Weekly "Dokushojin") 12:30-14:00 Lunch 14:00-17:00 "Guiding Children into the
94 97 List of Participants
BANGLADESH IRAN Mr. Md. Yousuf All Ms. Shirin Taavoni Librarian Research Department Bangladesh Shishu Academy National Library of Iran Old High Court Area Kuche Shahid Khansefid Dhaka 1000 Niavaran (Bahonar) Ave. Phone: 233691 Tehran Phone: 282222, 281667
BHUTAN IRAN* Ms. Tshering Wangmo Teacher Ms. Fereshteh Kashefi Teachers' Training College Research Fellow & Librarian Paro Cultural Studies and Phone: 36 Research Institute, 64th St., Assadabadi Ave., Tehran 14374 CHINA Phone: 688037, 688035-6 Mr. Gao Xian Jun Editor and Deputy Director LAOS of 2 Editorial Dept. People's Literature Publishing House Ms. Kongdeuane Nettavong 166 Chao Nei Street Director Beijing National Library Phone: 553210 Ministry of Information and Culture P.O. Box 122 Vientiane INDIA Mr. Gangadhar Sivaswamy MALAYSIA Deputy Director Directorate of Adult Education Ms. Jamilah Ibrahim Government of India Senior Organiser of School Resource 10 Jamnagar House Cents e Shahjehan Road Sekslri Perpustakaan-BTP New Delhi 110011 Tkt._0 Bank Pertanian I'hone: 382832, 384063 Kuala Lumpur Phone: 2922066
INDONESIA MALAYSIA * Mr. Mudjito Head of Provincial and Public Library Ms. Aizan Mohd. Ali Division Library Officer Centre for Library Development Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka Jalan Merdel,a Se 'Lauri11 P.O.lJox 10803, 50926 Jakarta Kuala Lumpur Phone: 360136 Phone: 2481011
95 98 NEPAL REPUBLIC OF KOREA* Mr. Prabandha Kumar Sakya Ms. Oh Jung Press Manager Illustrator Sajha Prakashan Korea- 'froebel Co. Pulchowk Kangnam Publication Phone: 521023, 522132, 521118 Center, 506, Sinsa-dong, Kangnam -gu, Seoul PAKISTAN Phone: 546-7871, 7872 Mr. Jahan Khan Jamro Assistant Director SRI LANKA National Book Council of Pakistan Regional Centre Mr. Matarage Sarath Upali Amarasiri C-22, G.O.R. Colony Director (acting) Hyderabad National Library Services Board Phone: 29149 Independence Avenue, Colombo 7 Phone:685201 PAPUA NEW GUINEA THAILAND Ms. Doleti Charope Principal School Library Officer Ms. Supannee Varatorn National Library Service Assistant Professor P.O. Box 5770 Department of Library Science, Boroko Faculty of Arts, Phone: 256200 Chulalongkorn University, Phyathai Road, Bangkok 10330 Phone:2516953 PHILIPPINES
Ms. Lydia Lalunio VI ET NAM Officer in charge Reading Department Mr. Bui Viet Bac Philippine Normal College Editor Taft Avenue, Manila Kim Dong Publishing House Phone:402203 64 Ba Trieu St., Hanoi Phone:649
REPUBLIC OF KOREA Ms. Ki Young-Nae Editorial Designer Youl Hwa Dang Publisher 372-9 Sogyo-dong, Mapo-gu
Seoul ( fafticipant!, of C-category who attohdod Phone:717-0613 the coon:0 at their own expense.)
96 99 List of Lecturers
Mr. Seizo Tashima Ms. Yoshiko Takenaka Author-illustrator of creative picture Specialist for children's book service. books. Ile created many picture books She has been playing an active role in with originality and published several promoting books for children at the collections of essays.He was awarded Tokyo Children's Library. "Golden Apple Prize" at BIB iii1969 address: Tokyo Children's Library, and received a number of major awards #311, Forest Heights, 1-9-2, Toyotama- for picture book illustrations in Japan. Kita, Nerima-ku, Tokyo, 176, Japan Among his picture books, "Fukimanbuku", "Chikarataro", "Shibaten" and "Tobe Batta" etc. Ms. Yoshie Nagai address: 8259-3, Oh-kuno, Hinode-cho, Nishi-Tama-gun, Tokyo, 190-01, Japan Librarian at the Kuwata Junior High School in Okayama and an active member of the Society for School Ms. Hiroko Sasaki Library Issues in Okayama.Co-authored "Introduction to Book Talk" and made Professor of child psychology at the several reports related to school Naruto Educational College.Her libraries. research includes the development of address: Okayama Kuwata Junior High children in relation to picture books and School,2-3-35, Higashi-Shimadacho, authored several titles in this field. Okayama-shi, Okayama-ken, 700, Japan address: #401, Heights-Hayashi, 3-83-5. Naka-Yoshinocho, Tokushima-shi, O Tokushima, 770, Japan Dr. Arif in Bey Professor of the Kanda University of Mr. Hitoshi Kurihara Foreign Studies, Japan.Born in Sumatra, Indonesia. He was the editor- Secretary General of the Japan Library in-chief of "Indonesian Herald" from Association.He has been playing a 1961-67 and lectured in several leading role in library activities and universities in Indonesia and in Japan on reading promotion activities in Japan. international relations. address: Japan Library Association, address: Seaside Masago 2-1305, 4-3, 1-1-10, Taishido, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Masago, Chiba-shi, Chiba, 260,Japan 154, Japan Mr. Yasuo Ueda Mr. Ken;chi Ino Assistant Professor of Journalism at the Secretary General of the Japan Council Sophia University, Japan.He has been for Promoticn of Reading Movement. an editor of the established weekly Ile has been conducting nation-wide newspaper on books and reading, readingpromotion activities in Japan. "Shukan Dokushojin". address: Dokusho Suishin Kyougikai, address: #204, 1-6-4, Ilikarigaoka, No.6, Fukuromachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Nerima-ku, Tokyo, 176, Japan 162, Japan
100 97 Ms. Yoshiko Hamashima Mr. Tadashi Matsui Chairman of Fukuinkan Shoten Director of Matsudo Ohanashi Caravan, Publishers and Representative of IT in a group of extensive activities of story- Asia" telling and reading promotion for address: 1-1-5, Kugayama, Suginami-ku, children, which is funded by Matsudo Tokyo, Japan City. address: Matsudo Ohanashi Caravan, 2-2, Shin-Matsudo-Minami, Matsudo-shi, Japanese Board on Books for Young People Chiba, 270, Japan (JBBY) address: #405, Aoyama Miyano Bldg., 2-. 8-7, Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, 150, Ms. Noriko Matsui Japan President: Ms. Yoko Inokuma Author-illustrator of picture books and Secretary General: Ms. Yumiko Bando Kamishibai. Her Kamishibai, picture play and picture books have been very popular among Japanese children and Kodansha Publishers nave been awarded major prizes such as address: 2-12-21, Otowa, Bunkyo-ku, at the Bologna World Children's Book Tokyo, 112, Japan Exhibition.Among her woks, "Koro-koro President: Ms. Sawako Noma Bo--n", "Gokigenno Warui Kokkusan", etc. address: 3-14-32, Inokashira, Tama City Library, Sekido Branch Mitaka-shi, Tokyo, 181, Japan address: 1724, Kaitori, Tama-shi, Tokyo, 260, Japan Director General: Mr. Sachiaki LIST OF PANELISTS OF SYMPOSIUM IN Hagiwara THE COURSE PROGRAMME AND Director: Mr. Shigeo Taira OBSERVATION VISITS Children's Librarian: Ms. Reiko Nakamura Bunko Organizer: Ms. Hiyori Hiroi Mr. Katsumi Takahashi TV director and producer address: 4-15,17, Nishi-Kameari, Kinunomichi Bunko Katsushika-ku, Tokyo, 125, Japan address: 1405-50, Katakura-cho, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo, 192, Japan Ms. Sachiko Katakura Ms. Kyoko Iwasa Children's counseller. address: Luna Children's Counselling Japan Braille Library Center, 2F, Hakusan-shita, Chuo Bldg., address: 1-23-4, Takadano-baba, 5-36-13, Hakusan, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 169, Japan 112, Japan Deputy Director: Mr. Tetsu Naoi
Ms. Junko Watanabe National Diet Library Representative of Suzuran Bunko. address: 1-10-1, Nagatacho, Chiyoda-ku, address: 4-15-27, Shakujii-cho, Nerima- Tokyo, 110, Japan ku, Tokyo, 177, Japan
Mr. Nissanka Madurapperuma former secretary of the Sri Lanka National Book Development Council. address: 190/11, Kamatawatta Rd., Welikada, Rajagiriya, Sri Lanka
101 98 List of Secretariat Members
Mr. Toshiyuki Hattori President Mr. Tadashi Inumaru Director General Mr. Taichi Sasaoka Executive Director Mr. Tetsuhiko Yasui Director, Book Development Division Mr. Shinji Tajima Chief, Book Development Section Ms. Mieko Tase Deputy Chief, Book Development Section Ms. Taeko Kurokawa Asst. Chief, Book Development Section Mr. Shigeru Aoyagi Asst. Chief, Book Development Section Ms. Misako Ohnuki Book Development Section
1st row Iron left: Lydia Lalunio(PhiliWnes), Aizan Plohd.Ali(Nalaysia), Nudjito(lndonesia). ToshIyUki Hattori (ACCU), C.Sivaswamy(India), Xi Young-nae(Rep.of Korea), Xongdeuane Nettavong (Laos), Tshering Wangmo (Bhutan): 2nd row: Mieko Tese(ACCU), Taeko Xurokawa(ACCU), Hattori,Xatakura, Supannee Varatorn (Thailand), boleti Charope (PNC), Yousuf All ,Bangladesh), Jahan Khan Jamro(Pakistan), Shirin Taavoni(Iran), Oh Jung (Rep.of Korea), Jamilah Ibrahim (Malaysia): 3rd row: Tetsuhiko Yasui(ACCU),Niroi, Nuraoka, Prabandha Xumar Sakya (Nepal), Dui Viet Bac (Viet Nam), Taichi Sasaoka (ACCU), Sbinji Tajima(ACCU), Shigeru Aoy60(kccU), Fereshteh Kashofi(Iran), Gao Xianjun (China). ()pall Amarasiri (Sri Lanka)
9 9 102
11111111n. General Information
GENERAL INFORMATION was highly evaluated by the participating countries.Its achievement and continued requests from the countries in the 1.Organization Asian/Pacific region, led to the holding of another course on this topic this year. The Training Course on Promotion of Reading Habits and Book Development Faced with diverse problems with regard 22nd Training Course on Book Production in to promotion of reading habits in respective Asia and the Pacific will be organized by countries in Asia and the Pacific, effective the Asian Cultural Centre for Unesco and new ideas to promotereading habits (ACCU), with assistance from Unesco and must be planned and put into practice with with the cooperation of the Japanese the cooperation of people in different book- National Commission for Unesco, the Japan related fields. Book Publishers Association, Japanese Board on Books for Young People and the Japan In view of the present situation and Library Association. needs for promoting reading habits, ACCU is organizing the training course on promotion 2.Time and Place of reading habits.
The course will take place from Friday, 4.Purpose 17 November to Wednesday, 5 December 1989 at the Japan Publishers Building (4th This course aims at providing those floor, No.6 Fukuromachi, Shinjuku-ku, engaged in activities of promoting reading Tokyo, 162, Japan). habits with a forum to exchange experiences and views on their unique and effective activities in respective countries. 3.Background Also it tries to provide them with opportunities to acquire theories and In order to contribute to book techniques of effective reading promotion development in Asian/Pacific countries activities, through lectures, discussions, through training of personnel, ACCU has practical sessions and observation visits. been organizing an annual training course on book production since 1967.The courses in Based on the common problems related the past dealt with general publishing as to promotion of reading habits in the well as specific themes such as children's region, the participants will have concrete book publishing and periodicals publishing, and practical sessions for conducting based on the requests of the participating effective activities in respective countries. countries. In this way this course tries to Recognizing that promotion of reading contribute to the promotion of reading habits is deeply inter-related with the habits and overall book development in the development of publishing activities as t.-"an/Pacific region. regards both quality and quantity, and that it is one of the most vital areas to be 5.Course Programme considered in accelerating book development, the Meeting of Experts for 1) Exchange of information (participants' Planning Book Development in Asia and the presentations): Pacific (Tokyo, 21-25 July 1987) proposed that promotion of reading habits should be -present situation and trends on given priority as a theme for ACCU's future reading, promotion of reading habits courses. and publication activities in respective countries in Asia/Pacific In1988, therefore, a course on the serious problems and their proposed promotion of reading habits was held and solutions for promoting reading habits
100 103 2) Lecture & discussion: activities and who can cover necessary expenses themselves for participating in effective methods and practices of this course, i.e. air travel expense, promoting reading habits stipend, etc.They should also be case studies of promotion of reading recommended by the respective National habits in Asian/Pacific countries Commissions for Lines) of the above- effects on reading of audio-visual mentioned 19 countries. media such as television and comics others (2) Qualifications of Participants 3) Practical sessions: The participants should satisfy all of the following conditions: analysis of presented problems by participants 1) They have engaged themselves in the group activities for effective practical activities of promotion of promotion of reading habits reading habits for more than five years. development and use of various 2) They are playing leading roles in reading materials and media for reading promotion activities in their countries promotion and their activities are recognized as planning new methods for reading most excellent and unique achievements promotion in this field. others 3) They are able to report on the present situation of reading promotion activities 4) Observation visits: in respective countries and participate in the discussions in English. different kinds of libraries 4) They should agree to observe the course, reading promotion activities for schedule strictly and in its entirety. children 5) They are between 25 and 45 years old etc. and in good health. 6) They have not participated in any 6.Participants annual training course in Tokyo organized by ACCU in the past. (1) Categories of participants 7.Financial Arrangements Category A:Participants with air travel expense and daily subsistence ( I ) Travel expense: allowance provided by ACCU: ACCU will bear the travel expense of One person recommended by the each participant under Category A (see respective National Commissions for para. 6 above) by providing a round trip Unesco of each of the following 16 economy class air ticket. countries; Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, (2) Daily subsistence allowance: Indonesia, Laos, Maldives, Mongolia, ACCU will provide each participant Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New under Category A and B with daily Guinea, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand subsistence allowance of V12,000/day for and Viet Nam. the period from 16 November to 5 December 1989. Category B:Participants with daily subsistence allowance provided (3) Other expenses: by ACCU: ACCU will cover all expenses for One person recommended by the lectures, observation tours officially respective National Commissions for scheduled. Unesco o; the following 3 countries; Iran, Malaysia and Republic of Korea. 8.Application Procedure
Category C:Participants attending with (1)The National Commissions for Unesco their own expenses: desiring to recommend participants in Up to two persons per country who is this course are requested to recommend mainly engaged in reading promotion three persons who fall un ler Category
104 101 A or B, and another up to three photographs and books in your persons under Category C, if any, by country, for exchange of sending APPLICATION FORMS duly experiences among the participants filled in by each of the applicants to and resource persons. ACCU not later than 6 October 1989. 10. Working language (2)After examining APPLICATION FORMS, ACCU will select the participants. The working language of the course is English. Simultaneous interpretation (3)ACCU will inform of the acceptance of between Japanese and English will be participants to the participants provided for lectures delivered in Japanese. themselves and to the National An interpreter will accompany participants Commissions for Unesco concerned. during the observation tours.All documents (The Guide for Participants will be are prepared in English. sent then, with the invitation letter for further action.) 11. Insurance ** It should be noted that all ACCU will purchase an "Overseas applications should be submitted through the Traveller's Personal Accident Insurance National Commissions for Unesco concerned, Policy" for all the participants under and should reach ACCU by the closing date Categories A, B and C, covering medical of 6 October 1989.Neither direct expenses for injury and illness. application from individuals nor application through bodies other than the Unesco 12. Accommodation National Commissions concerned are acceptable. Air-conditioned single rooms are reserved the following: 9.Requirements of the participants Tokyo Garden Palace(facility of REPORTS When the participants are private teachers association in Japan) decided, they are requested to address:7-5, Yushima 1-chome, Bunkyo- write a report on the following ku, Tokyo, 113, Japan topics: telephone: - 3 -) 813-6211 facsimile:818-6060 1) Most serious problems you face in promoting reading habits (with priority), 13. Corv:spondence and reports on successful cases and those cases which did not succeed. All communication concerning the course 2) What you expect to grasp from this should be addressed to: course The Director General Asian Cultural Centre for Unesco MATERIALS FOR READING PROMOTION No.6, Fukuromachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, The participants are requested to 162, Japan bring with them or send to ACCU telephone: (+81-3-) 269-444h, 4435 prior to the course, samples of cable address:ASCULCENTRE TOKYO effective materials for promotion facsimile: 269-4510 of reading habits, such as A-V (no telex facility available.) materials, campc.gn posters,
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