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To the losers, we say: Read it and weep. Ego boosting is, after all, the aesthetic value of geographical rankings that measure quality of life. The honor should have come as little surprise. Seattlelites buy more books per capita than citizens of virtually any other city. The study's author, Dr. John Miller, president of Central Connecticut State University, says his quest was not to discover whether Seattle's citizens are able to read, but whether or not they do. The distinction? One is about love of a good book, the other about literacy. Fair enough. The answer is yes, Seattleites read. Credit goes to a strong library system in the city and King County and an abundance of independent bookstores loved by tourists and residents. When it comes to books, Seattle places its money squarely on the shelf. Seattle libraries were renovated and updated after a voter-passed bond measure in 1998. There are now 24 branch libraries and the crown jewel, the Rem Koolhaas-designed Central Library. The Seattle City Council this week approved a proposal by two of its members, Peter Steinbreuck and Jean Godden, to spend $2.8 million of new money expanding Sunday hours to all libraries, extending evening hours at the downtown branch and reopening libraries Monday and Tuesday mornings. An equally fair question for Miller's survey might have been whether or not Seattle's citizens can read. The answer is yes, mostly. But literacy, the ability to read for understanding so that one can eventually read for enjoyment, remains a challenge. Nonreaders at the elementary and secondary education levels can end up costing society. They drop out of school and are frequently unemployed. The vast majority of prison inmates are functionally illiterate. Some love to read. Some cannot read. Bridging the gap means a continued investment in the things that promote literacy: accessible libraries and education that emphasizes reading. Celebrate literacy by passing on a love of reading and the ability to experience it. Copyright © 2005 The Seattle Times Company
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