NATIONAL LIBRARY TO STUDY READING HABITS AMONG MALAYSIANS

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 23 (Bernama) -- The National Library will carry out a
study on the reading habits among Malaysians, Information Communication and
Culture Minister Dr Rais Yatim said.

Data obtained from the study would give a clearer picture on the reading
habits among Malaysians, he told reporters when asked to comment on a report by
Utusan Malaysia yesterday that Malaysians do not like to read books.

Rais said the ministry accepted the report but said that it was based on a
random survey.

He said there were signs that the reading rates among students were
increasing, from two books a year to seven or eight books a year.

"But this is also a random estimate. So the ministry has asked the National
Library to carry out the study."

He said the National Library had also been asked to explain why there were
little response to its rural library initiative.


-- BERNAMA