If you live in New Zealand, you can join a public library and borrow books for free. Most libraries offer free internet access using your laptop or a library computer. You can join your local library even if you are an international student. You need to take some kind of ID with you like your passport, and a letter addressed to you so the librarian can check that you live in the area. It is free to join the library and free to borrow most books.
New Zealanders love their libraries. Last year there were 37 million visits to libraries by our 4.2 million people. 48 million print books were borrowed. This number is 4% less than in 2012. However, the number of ebooks borrowed increased from 350,000 in 2012 to 800,000 in 2013. Many people prefer to read on a tablet or kindle, especially if they are travelling.
However, most people still like a print book. Picture books for small children are attractive. Parents enjoy reading picture books to children at bed time. School children who are learning to read enjoy bringing home easy books from school or the library. They like to share their books with their family.
Libraries offer many other services. When you visit your library, you may find people listening to music, watching a DVD, finding out about their ancestors, checking a data base, reading a newspaper from a foreign country, doing homework, or just keeping warm. Librarians love helping people so don’t feel shy about asking for help.
Vocabulary
ancestors – grandparents, great-grandparents etc.
Questions
1. Do you think we will still be reading print books in 10 years’ time? In 20 years? In 50 years?
2. What are the advantages of ebooks?
3. What are the advantages of print books?
4. Do you have good public libraries in your country?
5. Do people in your family like reading?