Nurturing passion for the written word

READING takes us on adventures that never end.

However, technology has changed how people consume and interact with written content.

Many prefer to read on their digital devices including smartphones, tablets and ebooks.

While some say that technology detracts from the reading experience, others believe it has the potential to make reading more accessible and enjoyable.

Getting children to read physical books is a tall order in the digital age.

Some reading enthusiasts shared their opinions on how content should be consumed.

Ipoh Book Lovers Club founder Hemavathy DM Suppiah said both her parents nurtured her passion for the printed word.

Hemavathy said she was blessed to have parents who read books.

She grew up surrounded by books and read voraciously.

“When I was young, my mother used to read me bedtime stories every night.

“My parents used to go to the Tun Razak Library (PTR) and borrow books for me.

“My father was a member of the Royal Ipoh Club, which also had a good library and he used to borrow books from there as well.

Vincent prefers digital books because of their convenience and customisable features.“Every few weeks, there were books in our house. There was no necessity to buy books then, as the libraries were well-equipped and always had the latest books,” she recalled.

Hemavathy, a writer, said the secondary schools she attended had good libraries too.

She said she started reading books written for adults at 10 as her parents did not believe in restricting her access to books.

Joining book clubs

Hemavathy joined a book club and later hosted book discussions in 2016 when she was working in Kuala Lumpur.

Some readers from Ipoh joined in online as they were unable to find similar clubs near them, she said.

“Sometimes they would join us for physical discussions in Kuala Lumpur.

“I also run a few international-based online book clubs.

“In 2017, I suggested doing a book discussion in Ipoh, and two members joined the first physical discussion.

“Currently, we have 209 members in Perak, with the majority from Ipoh,” she said, highlighting that books selected ahead of a discussion would cover all genres.

As the host, she reads all the titles, does research and gets background information on the books’ historical and cultural context.

The book club members usually try to meet at least once a month, sometimes online and sometimes in person.

Even when members are not present, they provide input and comments, said Hemavathy.

“The way we consume content has changed.

It only costs RM10 to join the Tun Razak Library as a lifetime member.

“When I was growing up, books were common in households and schools.

“The act of picking up a book, turning the pages, reading it, sniffing it – the book was very tangible.

“These days, I also read ebooks.

“When I host book discussions, reading on an electronic device is convenient as it is easier to look up references and definitions.

“I can take an ebook anywhere.

Libraries hold activities to encourage greater participation from the public, especially younger members.

“In fact, I am obsessed with audio books which is an evolution to storytelling.

“My late father and I used to discuss books that we read,” she said.

These days parents no longer do that, she noted, and as such, children don’t grow up reading books because parents find it much easier to entertain them with electronic devices.

“Children don’t learn to focus, but it is not their fault because it is the way they have been brought up with exposure to online games.

“By playing a game they are able to share their scores on social media, but with books, they are unable to talk about their progress,” she said.

Hemavathy urged parents to make the effort to bring storytelling back into their children’s lives and nurture a generation that loves books.

Hemavathy says by joining book clubs, she reads books she normally wouldn’t have.“It is okay if they don’t read traditional books, as long as they read materials that interest them.

“How they access these books shouldn’t matter,” she opined.

Her advice to younger readers is to make reading an enjoyable activity.

“Look at reading as an adventure. If you don’t like a book, leave it and move on to the next one.

“It is good to find a medium that suits you best – reading books should not be stressful.

“Finish reading a book at your own pace.

“In a way, joining book clubs challenged me to read books that I normally would not have read,” added Hemavathy.

Physical or ebooks?

Harmeet Singh, an operations associate at an online retail company, enjoys reading in libraries because the atmosphere there enhances the experience.

He said physical books provided a tactile experience that digital devices couldn’t replicate.

“The feeling of turning pages, the weight of the book and the texture of the paper contribute to a sensorially rich experience.

Tun Razak Library representatives go to schools for storytelling sessions and to teach library management.

“In a library, the environment is quieter and less distracting, compared to using a phone or reading ebooks in a potentially noisy or busy setting.

“This helps me concentrate on the material,” he said.

Reading physical books, said Harmeet, gave him a break from constant screen exposure.

“For some, this provides a valuable opportunity to disconnect from technology and enjoy a more contemplative experience.

“Reading on a device may expose the reader to notifications and the temptation to multitask and lose focus, potentially disrupting the immersive experience that a physical book offers,” he pointed out.

Digital books, however, are the preferred choice for compliance analyst Cebrian Donald Vincent.

Harmeet prefers reading in libraries as the quiet environment helps him to focus.He said ebooks could be accessed instantly from anywhere with an Internet connection.

“This makes it more convenient for readers who cannot easily access physical libraries.

“Ebooks are environmentally friendly as they eliminate the need for paper, printing and transportation.

“Ebooks also allow readers to customise text size, font, and background colour, catering to individual reading preferences and aiding those with visual impairments,” Vincent added.

Dr Jessreen Kaur, a general practitioner, said she read bedtime stories to her two-year-old son every night.

She said it was important to cultivate reading as a habit.

“As a young child, I loved books so much and I want my son to develop the same love for reading.

“Today, books (for children) are so interesting.

“We have pop-up pages, books that have accompanying music and a wide array of ebooks,” she added.

Dr Jessreen said these types of books make reading fun for children.

Library lessons

PTR is run by Ipoh City Council (MBI) and mayor Datuk Rumaizi Baharin said the city had always sought to encourage reading, especially among the young.

“Tun Razak Library purchases the latest books and always notifies the public on the books’ availability via social media,” he said.

The library has been holding campaigns to encourage reading among the community, he said, targeting children from preschool to secondary school.

Many people still go to bookstore to purchase physical books.

Rumaizi said students were also invited to participate in the library’s activities such as reading, storytelling, book wrapping, exhibitions as well as workshops organised by authors.

“Ipoh City Council and the library conduct activities periodically, such as those that require analyses and research, whereby they are directed to get information from the Tun Razak Library,” he elaborated.

He said library representatives also visited schools to hold storytelling sessions and teach library management.

“We aim to make Tun Razak Library an attractive, comfortable and conducive place by having the latest books which cater to various interests as well as up-to-date digital learning apps.

He said the library also collaborated with government agencies and non-governmental organisations to encourage reading among teenagers.

It also hosts book exhibitions and provides prizes for competitions.

“The library charges a nominal fee of RM10 for adult lifetime membership while it is free for children under 12, to encourage more people to read, starting from young,” said Rumaizi.