Currently, the Ethiopian government has given due attention for education. As education is the primary instrument to build productive generations, numerous education facilities are being constructed throughout the country. In this regard, the largest Ethiopian public library named Abrehot (Enlightenment) library was inaugurated in the center of the capital in recent month. The library’s inauguration gives a real motivation to the youngest generation to develop a culture of reading and easily access reading materials freely.
The habit of reading is also developing assisted with different digital mechanisms. The introduction of the electronics media said to be enhance the twenty first technology generation to be up-to-date and gain information as soon as the occurrence goes.
An interviewee, Yismaw Asalif, whom this writer once found carrying books and walking along the road from 4 Killo to 6 Killo said that, he sells only three to five books daily after tiresome walks on the streets of Addis. He usually leaves his home early in the morning at 7:00 AM. Then he begins searching for readers using his intuition where to hunt for them and who will be interested to buy his books.
“The people tend to show lower demand to buy our books when there is an increase in the cost of living. They told book venders like me that they prefer fulfilling their basic need first. However, we have trusted readers and customers who never consider the environment to read because they cultivated a reading habit from the beginning. They never hesitate to buy a new book as soon as publication”, he said.
While this reporter asked him about vendors’ dishonest bent regarding book prices his response was positive. “To tell the truth I never do like that. But some of my friends try to sell their books with this system. As readers always have the inclination to ask a price cut, to balance this, vendor’s tamper with the price on the back. Almost all buyers have taken bargaining for granted even if the exact price of the book they want to buy is displayed on the back cover. That is why some vendors expunge the actual price and put another price so as to make a 10-20 Birr discount. Thus, buyers enjoy a psychological satisfaction in getting a discount. From force of habit, people ask the price of a book and walk away up on hearing vendors reply. I am certain that they find the prices, which are soaring following the increment in the price of paper, daunting. Many readers are being priced out of market.”
According to him, pertaining to readers’ choice, the book readers often prefer to buy and hold are books revolving around political and historical issues. Vendors believe that they mainly be able to sell more books if they carry books that chimes in with the aforementioned interest of readers. While students are in semester break the demand of books could increase. Students are the main clients. The sale of books is seasonal. During the summer vacation (Ethiopia’s rainy seasons) the book market warms. And while students start moving back to school during the sunny seasons the market declines. Thus the book market shows a strong correlation with students. Thus it is no wonder if one poses the question” where are the other readers?”
A student from Addis Ababa University said there is a wide gap between students’ pocket money and the least price of a book in circulation. He suggests that student readers better frequent different libraries in town.
“Most of the time University students fix their eyes on handouts prepared by teachers. I have never bought books deducting from my pocket money. I rather prefer to borrow from library or my friends. I know how much books helped me acquire my current status. They have allowed me to be proud of myself. I have gained much from them. Still I love reading much more. Different books published here or abroad have additional information that could serve useful assets in one future undertaking. But the critical question here is the chasm between the demand of readers and the price of books.”
Price might not be the sole reason behind the weakness of reading books consistently.
To sum up, readers are a good leader that can absorb every aspect from every dimension. So as to cultivate a reading habit among citizens there is a call for assessing the book market. In doing so, we may thwart encumbrances that hinder the sector’s further development and effectiveness. Building a generation that peruses books is a key in creating a prosperous nation. When we come up with critical readers we will have a committed society that upholds its culture, conducts research and works to discover hidden things around it. An information and knowledge sniffing readership will help develop a habit of trouble shooting and standing for the truth. Readers are heard attributing books that enabled them be fruitful in their life.
As the saying goes “When there is a will, there is a way.” Even if the price of books is expensive, once a person is addicted with reading, s/he will have the opportunity to get books. Books are available at public and school libraries as well as at the shelves of relatives, if the book-thirsty are determined enough, according to the interviewees.
As compared to readers, people, who prove reluctant to open books, might not offer something. Nurturing and stepping up daily reading habits paves way to absorbing tremendous information and knowledge that makes our life viable. People moving around having their books in hand might be stronger than people walking alone, if given aptitude test.
BY TEWODROS KASSA
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD THURSDAY 5 MAY 2022
