Doha: As digitalisation of knowledge and information and the growing popularity of social media poses a threat to the centuries-old book reading habit, National Reading Campaign is performing a laudable job at Darb El Saai to promote love of reading in children.
With mobile library, puzzle contests and storytelling sessions, Qatar Foundation’s initiative “National Reading Campaign” is pulling crowds and trying to revive the dying habit of reading books in children and elders alike.
Children are provided with their favourite books from the mobile library to have a reading session in a cozy environment. Most of the books (mostly children’s storybooks) at the mobile library or book shelves placed in the pavilion are in Arabic but to facilitate other communities, books in English language are also available.
An official of the campaign told The Peninsula that children were taking interest in book reading and storytelling. “We hold around four story telling sessions daily — two in the morning and two in the evening.”
Launched by Qatar Foundation (QF) a few months ago, the National Reading Campaign is designed to incubate a love of literature among all residents, with a special focus on children.
“QF will seek to unite the individual literacy efforts of relevant organisations countrywide to create a consolidated platform that will enable entities to collectively promote a passion for reading throughout the entire community,” QF website says about the campaign.
The official added that the mobile library had visited almost all malls in the last few months where reading sessions were organised for children. “After National Day, we intend to start visiting schools – both independent and private – with mobile library and storytellers,” he said, requesting anonymity.
He added that at National Reading Campaign’s office, a book vending machine has also been installed. “One can swap books using these machines. This book swapping service is also available at our mobile library. A child can get a new book in exchange of older one which he/she has read,” he added.
The official said that after completion of some legal formalities like getting approval by the Ministry of Economy and Commerce, they will start presenting books for sale through the mobile library as well.
When asked whether their efforts for promotion of book-reading were bearing fruits or not, he said: “Yes, now we see familiar faces of children around our mobile library and in storytelling sessions wherever we move. It shows that they have developed a habit of book reading.” He said the parents were also taking interest in the campaign as they too wanted to see their kids reading books.
