Rupert Hopkinson - Director Georgetown Reading and Research Centre: ‘I don’t think the art of reading is lost. I say that because we have had a number of mobile book exhibitions in Berbice, Georgetown, Essequibo and West Demerara, and what we have found is that the response has been heartening. Contrary to the belief, people do read and we have sold lots of books. But it appears now that reading is a function dependent on the accessibility of books. If books are expensive people can’t buy them and the process of reading is interfered with. If libraries don’t have books, the process of reading is interfered with. What we have been doing is making available cheap books. And if people buy books, it follows that they read. In the last eight months we have injected more than 9,000 novels, children’s books and non-fiction works to the reading public. I can only assume that most of those will be read. I’m not saying that people are not reading less, but people do read. And generally I think writers are getting better today, the language is more sophisticated and we have many more authors. Locally though, it’s a problem. I don’t think we write enough and most of the books we read, most of the good books particularly, are foreign. I don’t know if it’s a question of people not getting things published but we have a problem with local writers. Go to any of the bookstores and most of the books you will find are foreign. And while I lament the fact that they aren’t many local works, once there is an availability that is what is important.’

Chandra Singh - private sector employee: ‘I don’t read much because I just don’t have the time to do it. When I do it is usually newspapers or something. I don’t think I read as often as I should and if I could I would. But I try to encourage my children to read because it is important to their development.’

Anthony Gonsalves - self-employed: ‘I like reading and I try to find the time for it everyday. The more I read, the more I learn, the more knowledge I attain. I think a lot of people still read for recreation. But what I have noticed though, is that illiteracy is very significant among young people and that is a problem which comes as a result of not reading. I think through reading you learn how to live in society and because people are not reading as they should, that is why we have so many problems.’

Sonia Morris -public servant: ‘I read principally Christian literature. I used to read a lot when I attended the University of Guyana but it was never a hobby for me. Now I read because I want to widen my scope on religion. I guess it interests me now because I have a special goal. In society now, I don’t think reading is part of our culture. I don’t think we have a generation of children who want to read. They read because it is necessary and I don’t know how we can re-culture them now. It’s because of technology. Look at Harry Potter, do you think people will bother to read the books now when they can look at the movies?’

Neville Foo - retired life underwriter: ‘I try to find the time for it, because reading is most important to me and it should be for everyone else as well. At present I enjoy reading the works of Sri Sathya Sai Baba and books by Shirley Maclaine, which are the introspective writings of a movie star, her outlook on life, and how to fit into your everyday dealings with people and events as they come forth. My view is that there is a decline in the reading habits of this present generation as a result of television and other audio/visual mediums. I believe these mediums do make an impact on your perceptions and I appreciate that. But that can be lost, whereas with reading, it is indelibly registered on your mind and you can always go back and make references to them. And with television and other mediums, you find that stories are condensed, sometimes into one-hour episodes, whereas books give you a more in-depth view and understanding. I think that parents need to instill this habit in their children, I did with mine: they took up the reading habit from my wife and I.’

Samantha James - librarian: ‘I like reading, it’s something I’ve always liked and I was encouraged a lot by my parents when I was a child. And I do it now with my own child because I think it’s important for knowledge and education. Now I read novels from foreign writers. I’ve never tried any of the local writers, although I know we have some good ones. I’ve thought about it but I have not tried any local writers as yet.’

Robert Pearce - NIS Manager: ‘I do read but that is a dying something now. With the advancement of technology, many people no longer do and it’s very sad because reading helps to develop the mind. We need to inculcate that habit now because with it one can develop oneself. With reading, the academic level of an individual rises and as you continue your outlook becomes more objective. I read a lot, Times, Newsweek, to keep abreast of world issues. I particularly follow international writing because I find that the local style of writing does not have a universal appeal. I think the local authors try to attract more educated people, rather than the common masses. The appeal is not universal.’

Latoya Burrowes - teacher: ‘I’m very busy but when I have the time I do read. At least I am up to date with the current affairs in Guyana and around the world. And it helps to expand your knowledge. I also read novels, but nothing local. To be quite honest I don’t read local works because none are available to me and they are not recognised. They don’t have any exposure or they’re not properly marketed. How can you go looking for something that you don’t know about? But as a Secondary School English teacher, I don’t think young people read as much as they should, outside their required reading. When I go to classes they don’t know more than the required reading and I think this is because they are not encouraged by their parents. I don’t think parents encourage their children to read and even if they do, the children don’t seem willing, they are too taken up with television and other distractions.’

Sara Lynch - student: ‘I read because it’s fun. You can learn a lot, like new words and it widens your imagination. Right now I’m reading the Harry Potter books and some Caribbean works. Reading is something I can do when I don’t have anything else to do and I think that a lot of people still read in Guyana. I know a lot of people who read, my friends read, although, some of my male friends don’t read a lot. Actually, they don’t read unless they have to.’