Let's Restore the Reading Culture

Late last year, when National Library Service (NLS) boss, Gray Nyali, graced Parliament deliberations to avail himself to the MPs on information regarding his institution’s drive to distribute books throughout the country using the MPs constituencies, he bemoaned the downward trend in the country’s reading culture.
Admittedly, reading habits are indeed changing in Malawi. Nowadays, many Malawians are not reading for the simple reason that they do not care enough to take time to concentrate on reading. By reading here, I mean reading any kind of literature whether books, newspapers, novels, magazines or anything of this sort. Gone are the days when people could go into a bookshop and order for a book or a novel. Indeed, the number of people visiting the national libraries for the of reading has plummeted over the years. Those who read spend a smaller part of their leisure time doing so as compared to many years ago.
And for the younger generation? They are even reading less. More laughable to note is also the fact that many of them are reading for the purposes of passing examinations and not for leisure. Many of them even abandon books after they have succeeded in their studies.
The advent and proliferation of the new media such as the internet, cell phones, I-pods and I-phones, social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, MXit, has even exacerbated the problem.
Nowadays, the younger generations are busy toying with their phones for whatever purposes among them listening to music, playing games and interacting with their peers.
The dwindling reading culture can also be attributed to the fact that nowadays people lead a busy life combining work with social and cultural interests like music, television, games and other entertainments.
But, one can also safely argue that the downward trend in reading culture is also because of the fact that several institutions which are key role players in the promotion of reading such as the National Library Service (NLS) and school libraries, are nowadays swimming in financial hiccups. For example, several books available in these institutions are old and in poor conditions and therefore not inviting enough to stimulate additional reading.
However, it’s a shame that all these observations point to the fact that the downward trend in reading culture, is not because of illiteracy problems in Malawi.
The paradox is that although many people are attaining a considerable higher level of education nowadays, it hasn’t brought about an upsurge in the time spent on reading by majority of people. Very unfortunate indeed!
However, there are many benefits people can reap from mere reading. For one thing, reading adds quality to life as it makes one know a number of things. Reading also develops creative thinking by ensuring that people think and make good decisions for themselves. Unlike in movies, where everything is determined by the producer, writer and director, books allows one to create on their minds, how a particular character looks like or imagine how a scene plays out.
But this is not all.
Reading also helps one improve fluency in language and communication skills—it increases vocabulary, spelling and writing skills. Reading also emancipates citizens and brings people together. Moreover, reading provides access to culture and cultural heritage. And to clinch it all, reading is a reliable source of information. Sure!
In fact, one can safely fear that the negative trend in reading culture can eventually lead to a split in the population between those who do have access to information and those who do not. This could seriously affect participation in cultural issues and society and might eventually pose a threat to democracy and national culture. For example, how can people make carefully informed political decisions if they do not have free access to information?
It is precisely against this background that I strongly feel that there is a need to restore the reading culture in Malawi. But, how can we do this?
Firstly, reading should be part of cultural and educational policy. The government needs to encourage and sensitize people and the youth in particular on the importance of reading. This is why we applaud the government for the re-introduction of literature subjects and making them compulsory in secondary education. Perhaps, this has to extend to primary level of education. Furthermore, parents and teachers should also instill in students a real love for reading and groom them into becoming lifelong readers. Children should also have access to books, newspapers and magazines so that they may be turned into readers for life.
More resources also need to be drawn for the support of institutions which promote reading such as the National Library Service (NLS) and school libraries as it is undeniable that these institutions are in dire straits.
There is also need for public and private partnership for the promotion of reading in the country. This should be between the government, which is the major player, and booksellers, librarians, writers including publishers.
Finally, it should be noted that reading can not only be fun but that it is also a great way to spend ones leisure time apart from being valuable and enriching. Books are the key to the world. So, let’s love reading.