<How Many Books Do You Read?>


Survey of Chung-Ang students
1. How many books do you read in a year?
 (1) I do not read. ? 5
 (2) 1 ~ 5 books ? 27
 (3) 6 ~ 10 books ? 35
 (4) 11 ~ 15 books ? 20
 (5) More than 15 books ? 13

1-1. If you answered, ‘I do not read.’ What is the reason?
 (1) I am okay without books.
 (2) I think the books are not necessary.
 (3) I am not interested in reading books.
 (4) I do not have enough time.
 (5) I do not like reading books.

2. Have you ever used an ‘e-book’?
 37 percent of the students have used the ‘e-book’.

3. Do you think the books are helpful to yourself?
 95 percent of the students answered that the books are helpful.

 

<Have you been to read e-book?>
E-book, Electronic book is digital publications that can read using computer or a private use unit unlike paper book. E-book can share one file between many people at the same time. Besides it do not make by paper, it helps by one of the protection of environment. The costs of e-book are cheaper than paper’s. Reading through a private use unit is one of solution that the people read book without computer.
Like this, development of e-book accelerates more and more. However, it is true that almost all do not interest about e-book. Ordinary times, do you use e-book? If not, what is the reason?
First, many people are familiar with paper book as you know. The people do not want to change exist one. Moreover, method of using e-book or process is complex yet. The service companies for provide various contents. Expensive price of a private unit is a portion of disturb of development e-book.
The people who do not enjoy reading book are of course not interest in it. The intention and effort of reading book through e-book is going backward.
In case of the Chung-ang library, they also provide e-book service for free. Usually they provide scholarship date base. They contact with five e-book contents companies. Two of them are foreign e-book date bases. Others are internal ones. The least ‘Nuri E-library’ opened in the Chung-ang library. They try to enlarge service like that, said concerned person in library.
Look around using condition; we can know that the user who use e-book services are a little compared total students of Chung-ang University.

 

<Prizewinner of extensive reader of Chung-ang university>

There are many extensive reading people though lots of people are not closed with books. Last year the Chung-ang library, Chung-ang University (CAU) was held an event to confer the largest amount reading award. Among them, a woman, Choi Eun-soon responds below interview.

CAH : You are one of the prizewinner of extensive readers. What kinds of books did you borrow?
Choi : I wanted to know other various majors except law that is my major. Mainly I tried to read about applied science books like medical science that oppose to cultural sciences. Ordinary times I read books related human right.
CAH : You seems like you would lent books related major. Except this, do you prefer to read other books?
Choi : I receive the question like this. Actually I did not lend major books. I already had to read book for lectures, I felt very stress so I read other books, took a rest.
CAH : What do you think that what we can get through books that other media is?
The most different thing between books and other media is meeting with an author. The book can communicate both whereas what other media like television program or movie gives have to analyze one-sides. It is a merit of books only that I sometimes agree with author’s opinion, sometimes I suggest other opinion. What thinking power improves can be explain by this reason.
CAH : What did you think a program that encouraged reading books?
Choi : I also watched the program but I could not get a good source because I already read recommended books many years ago. I felt sorrow this country have to campaign like this.
CAH : what is the importance of reading books?
Choi : No longer high score of TOEIC help your employment. Moreover depth interview become increases. When the people interview, the answer have their thinking or knowledge all. Reading books in leisure time is one of the good ways to take a rest. When younger, you had better close with books.

 



<World Book & Copyright Day>
April 23rd is the World Book & Copyright day. It is the day that you pay respects to literary works and writers of the whole world. ‘United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’ (UNESCO) set this day for the citizens of the world to promote reading books in 1995. The bookstores, libraries, writers and the related institutions participated in various activities, and such activities evolved no less than 80 countries in the world to commemorate the  World Book & Copyright day. Did you know what UNESCO did in connection with books? Here are their proposition works.

UNESCO proposition works
- The secretary-generals of UNESCO, African Union, European Parliament and also the official ministers of every country’s message announcement
- Recommendation of ‘Universal Postal Union’ (UPU) for the day of World Book & Copyright memorial stamps issue
- Publication of memorial material by countries: Posters (Sweden), Stamps (Korea, 1996), Collection of a fund (Germany)

A. Classified by Form
 a. Special Statement
 - Special messages is reported from celebrities (Colombia), TV Documentary of related personage, Radio Interview (Switzerland)
 b. Diffuse activities of books
 - Book contributions (Kuwait, Sweden), sale picture of well-known artists for promoting reading books (Mozambique), Foundation for follow-up plan (Germany)
 - Hold a discussion of related subjects (France, Romania, Ghana, Kuwait, Nigeria, Korea, Peru and ISESCO, etc.)

B. Classified by Subject
 a. Related to international / internal organization
 - International Publisher Association: Hold a discussion of related subjects, induction to the membership groups for participation, ‘Corporation for the Promotion of the Culture of Catalunya’ (COPEC): Bookstores network application promotion of Europe and Latin America (Belgium, Denmark, Germany, U.S.A, Argentina, etc.), Self-selection groups (Mozambique, Canada)
 b. Bookstores
 - Book Cafe, Reading in the bookshops (Norway), Special newsstands, Artists invitation ceremony, Poem recitation award (France, Norway), Picture and sculpture exhibitions connected with the bookstores (Norway), ‘Open House’ work of library (France, C te d’Ivoire)
c. Writers
 - TV conference with the writers (Norway), Reading club with the writers at the library (Sweden, South Africa), Writers visit prison, Donation events (Canada)
 d. School, University, Educational Institution
- Debates for Book and Copyright issues, Report issue (Cuba, India, France, England and Germany)

C. Etc.
 a. Other Activities
 - Reading campaigns and performances (Laos), Holding commemoration concerts (Peru), UNESCO’s Cultural Bookshops (Cuba)
 b. Connected Activities
 - Festivals, Exhibitions and Forum (Algeria, Italy, U.S.A), Union activities with Trade Union (Cuba), Statute adoption of copyright (Canada)


<Social Problems with Books>


The price of books is skyrocketing these days. Every student is astonished at the price of the books which are more expensive than thirty thousands won, basically. As a matter of fact, Korean publications care about the quality of paper or design too much. Good quality of paper, good design and opulent covers make the price go on rising. On that account, a certain publishing company starts to issue the books, which are composed of recycled paper and the cover of the book is included also.
Another problem is off-the-books money. In high school, there are so many problems that people take off-the-books money through the trade with publishing company to raise the price. This is not any different then setting up a barricade in front of the people who want to get closer to books.
Lastly, we all know that it is not easy to come in contact with books and the number of  libraries are limited. One TV program displayed a lot of enthusiasm for building libraries, but it was passionate just at that time. We are not concern with that project, now. People have to show their enthusiasm for books all the time. If we read books a lot, love books a lot, borrow books at the library, those are the first steps toward the solution of reading books.

 

 


Several bookstores started to hand out some bookmarks and roses, moreover they hold events in Korea. However, only a small minority knows that and they are concerned about the events of books in those days. Keeping people informed of this global day and to let people show interest in books are the duty of all the members of society, not only for the government or civil organizations. As you can see at the interview section, encouraging reading books program do not help some people. On the other hand, a large majority do not devote themselves to reading books. This survey was just restrictive, but it will not be different particularly when we see our whole nation.
Consequently, the government should have public relations a lot. In case of ‘Wow Book Festival’ is a well-known for young people, because it is held near the Hong-ik University, so many college students visit that festival. If the target is college student, the public relations about ‘World Book Day’, should be held in Myoungdong, Shinchon or Daehakro. Though, the target is middle or high school student, the public relations have to be held in front of the school gates or in class.
Now, look around your bookshelf, desk or inside your bag. Can you find many books? After you finished reading this article, go to the bookstore and open your wallet. Spend your time and money on books rather than on drinking alcohols. Remember, Knowledge is power!

 

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