Two decades on and the Reading for All campaign goes from strength to strength, reports Reem Leila On 24 June the Reading for All campaign's summer projects were launched in Ismailia, marking the 20th anniversary of a campaign that, in the words of Mrs Suzanne Mubarak, is intended to narrow the knowledge gap between Egypt and other developed societies. Initially focussed on encouraging students at schools and universities to read more and spend time in public libraries, the project soon expanded, targeting children through its complementary "Read for Your Child" campaign. In 1994 it introduced the Family Library series, publishing low-cost titles. More than 60 million volumes have been produced so far, a million of which have been distributed free of charge among regular visitors to libraries. In launching the summer projects Mrs Mubarak said that building a new, knowledge-based generation capable of coping with the fast changing contemporary world and contributing to its development remained a national priority. The Reading for All campaign, says Abdel-Raouf El-Ridi, chairman of the board of directors of the Mubarak Public Libraries and the campaign's cultural coordinator, has made books available in villages and poor urban areas, making it possible for underprivileged children to read to their heart's content. "The reprinting and mass distribution of titles, modern and classic, at eminently affordable prices, remains a key part of the project," he said. In her Ismailia address, Mrs Mubarak said that knowledge improves people's behaviour by promoting positive values. Through cultural enlightenment, the spirit of tolerance, freedom and peace can be spread. During the celebration Mrs Mubarak signed a number of books to be presented as gifts to regular visitors of the library. She went on to praise the programme's achievements in encouraging reading, writing and the publishing of books for all ages, and its role in setting up new libraries and cultural centres throughout Egypt. Over the past decade a network has been created connecting the Mubarak libraries with the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, which attracts 1.5 million visitors annually. The bibliotheca hosts at least 70 major cultural events annually. Past success not withstanding, there is still much to be done, said Mrs Mubarak. "I still dream of a book for each individual and a library for every family." Mrs Mubarak singled out the campaign's sponsoring of a prize devoted to writers of children's literature for special praise. Thanks to the award many talented children's writers have come to the fore in an area that had long been neglected, she said. As part of the celebrations of the 20th anniversary of Reading for All programme Mrs Mubarak inaugurated Ismailia's Mubarak Public Library, built at the cost of LE9 million over 5,000 feddans. The library contains a lecture hall, children's activity area and language and computer labs.
