CULTURE / READING CAMPAIGN

Ministry to promote 100 books

The Culture Ministry is compiling a list of 100 valued books to promote in an attempt to get more people, especially children, into the habit of reading.

The move follows concern expressed recently by Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn who noticed people, including teenagers, tended to ignore useful books, which seem to be becoming less attractive than other types of digital media, said Culture Minister Khunying Khaisri Sri-aroon.

Her ministry has begun selecting books of high literary value that are rarely read from the National Library. Only books 60 years or older will make the list of recommended reading.

The ministry will then send a list of the books to the Princess for a final decision.

The 100 titles making the cut for the list will feature some interesting subjects such as Thai grammar, Thai proverbs, and famous thought-provoking short stories, Khunying Khaisri said.

''These 100 books will help encourage reading in 2007, which is now the Year of the Thai Language, and also the year marking the 80th birthday of His Majesty the King,'' she said.

A number of recent studies found Thai reading habits were relatively poor, prompting the authorities to come up with campaigns targetting children, many of whom seem to prefer to spend their time playing computer and online games.

In 2003, according to the National Statistics Office, Thais on average read only six lines a day or only five books a year, while a Singaporean reads the equivalent of 17 books a year and an American 50.

Khunying Khaisri said a master plan was afoot to improve public libraries by installing modern search technologies and making their environments more lively.

Bangkok Post

Monday April 09, 2007