Reading is cool and helps you find friends

Estonians have always considered themselves a nation of readers and taken pride in the abundance of books in their homes. Yet surveys indicate that the habit of reading is steadily decreasing in Estonia, which is also confirmed by sales numbers. Regrettably, poor skills of self-expression, linguistic laxity and incorrect language use are phenomena that we are increasingly coming across. Are we really dealing with poor literacy or even illiteracy? Even maths teachers are complaining that pupils are not able to solve more complicated text tasks because they cannot read or understand the text.

Reading and writing are not just individual skills. They are increasingly linked to social abilities in society. How to help re-discover that truth, to guide new readers to literature and to encourage them to read and write were topics discussed in the Cupola Hall of the National Library of Estonia on 27 May by Jonathan Douglas from the British National Literacy Trust, who was the head organiser of the British Year of Reading 2008.