The National Endowment for the Arts did a study, "Reading at Risk" that showed we lost as a nation 20 million readers between 1992 and 2002. A 7% decline in people reading books. This was of course taken up by the Internet, electronic game, television and other media, but I am joined by millions of others that know reading is an vital part of a successful society. As readership declines, so will the U.S.
I have begun a quest to increase literacy one county at a time. Through the local literacy groups already in place and the state and county fairs that bring over 100 million people to events every year, my plan is to build a coalition between the literacy groups, the state and countyfairs and their association and authors, publishers and distributors to provide low cost or no cost books to fairgoers and promote the idea for people to read 12 books a year. Thus the name Read12. Today the average is less than 1 book a year, so this is a big goal. I think it's entirely possibly. Do you?
Stay tuned here to see how this comes together including a website to suggest monthly reading. If you'd like to join me, please contact me at tblair@enklings.com or 805-748-1333.
Tim Blair - Founder - Read12
