Promoting the habit of reading

According to the latest survey by the Book Chamber in 2019, in Colombia a person reads 2.7 books per year; a figure that, although it has improved compared to other times, is still low since in countries like Chile and Argentina, the average is 5 per year.

With this in mind, the director of the Girardot branch, Dr. Juan Carlos Méndez, launched this project, which is led by the Center for Knowledge Management and Learning. Mauricio Suárez, who works in that area coordinating the service, explains that “the purpose is to promote reading habits and spark interest in this activity. That's why we started this program last semester, donating new or used books, which we've called Medit Libros.”.

The entire school community can come and donate them. “In this collection process, for example, Dr. Juan Carlos donated several copies, teachers Gloria Esmeralda Torres, Francisco Cabrera Díaz, and Álvaro Cabrera Díaz did the same, and a retired teacher gave us others. Likewise, a relative of a deceased teacher made a significant contribution from his personal library.”.

What's interesting about this initiative is that people can approach a table where there are texts from different areas of knowledge and receive them for free. "Initially, 170 copies arrived, of which 77 remain, covering areas of knowledge such as administration, nursing, law, and accounting standards, among others.".

For Alberto García Manzanares, a professor in the Business Administration program, it all started when a colleague told him about the project. “I went over to the table where the texts are and took some on microeconomics and research fundamentals. I think the idea is wonderful because it allows knowledge to continue. I also believe it's a way to honor the memory of that professor who passed away and whose family donated several copies to spark a love of reading and promote intellectual growth.”.

He also noted that these books have not lost their relevance to current knowledge. “For example, they are texts with concepts and exercises that are still valid for classroom use today. This experience has awakened in me the desire to donate my library so that others can enjoy it when I am no longer in this world.”.

In this way, the university reaffirms its mission to be a democratic, autonomous, educational, and transmodern social organization of knowledge for the benefit of a society that seeks to improve its living conditions through reading.

More news from the Girardot branch at the News Agency