Paid Time to Read

Discussion Questions:
1. How much do you like reading?
I like reading books in general. Since I was a child I was interested in sports books or journals, and newspapers also. When I was a teenager I started to read books related to my studies such as economics books, or philosophical books and later I carried on reading novels such as dramas, romantic novels, or thrillers. Apart from that, I like to read books related to my studies, in Human Resources, logistics, management, leading, and managing people. I like also to read English books and journals to improve my English skills.

2. How long should people read each day?
I don’t how long should people read every day, I think it depends on each person. For example, there are people who read a lot every day for their work; books, articles, news, and look for some information. Others who work in a factory, and have a family with children and a lot of responsibilities are more difficult to have time to read. However, I think always is possible to find half an hour at least every day to read a book, for example after a shower to disconnect the work day or, is common also to read before going to sleep for a few minutes to relax.

3. How important are libraries?
I think, nowadays libraries should carry on to be important for all of us. Is obvious that the tendency last 10 or 15 years is that all things can do it through the Internet; and reading books, newspapers, news or journals is every day more common that people to use new technologies to read these kinds of things. Nevertheless, our traditions like traditional libraries should always exist, because the feeling when you go to your local library and look for your book, and find it, and coming home with your book is a great feeling, or study in the library hours and hours, or read a book in a relaxing way in your library, all of them are incredible experiences that should never disappear. For this reason, I think libraries should always exist.

4. What do you think of having libraries in shopping malls?
I think is a fantastic idea because it is a way to promote and encourage reading when people go shopping or in their leisure time. Why not? Is it possible sharing go shopping with a couple of friends and after that look for a nice book and spend a relaxing time reading some pages to know a little bit about your new book or search for something interesting that you need for your work or your studies.

5. What does your country do to encourage reading and literacy?
I know that my country Spain has a lot of initiatives to encourage people to read and literacy our society all of the ages and all social classes. For example, the Culture Department of the Government of Spain promotes events where people can participate in reading and writing books with different awards. There are different programs and campaigns during the year, not only promoted by the government, but also by public organizations related to the cultural world, both, physical and online to encourage people to read and support them with different tools. Apart from that there are a lot of private academies that teach people to read and write, completely involved in the world of culture and letters.

Refers to Catalonia region, which incentive Catalonian Culture, there are different events over the year also, programs, and awards, but above all, the day of the rose and the book in Catalonia all stand out. Is the 24th of April and is the main day of the year in Catalonia when people gift Roses and books, and the mains streets of Barcelona’s city center are plenty of books stall, where people can buy all kinds of books, from the new more ones up to the old ones in their antique and unique editions. I have had the opportunity to be in several times on that fantastic day in Barcelona streets, where the streets are crowded, people are fascinated and really the atmosphere is amazing.

6. What do you think of having a law that gets people to read?
I’m not sure if it is completely necessary of having a law to get people to read. Sometimes when people are forced to do something, they react in a negative or opposite way in front of this obligation or law. Could be positive in that kind of country like UAE, but in countries such as Spain, as I said before, I believe is better to encourage people in other ways like events, programs, campaigns, and special days like the 24th of April in Catalonia. I’m completely sure that the population in Spain are enough able to understand the support of the government and other institutions or public and private organizations and pick up that help for your own benefit in this case for the promotion of the reading.