The Ministry of Culture is scheduled to launch "A New Wave of Reading,” one of its major events of the year, on Jan. 26 at a conference hall of the CPC Corporation in Taipei City as part of efforts to make reading a national culture.
Famous actress Brigitte Lin will be a "Cultural Ambassador” and read books to the public as well as share the joy of reading literature and watching films.
The campaign aims to encourage the public to "embrace books and films” and instill culture in them through reading, said Culture Minister Lung Ying-tai. Lin, an actress and writer who enjoys reading, is an ideal promoter of the event, Lung noted.
Saying she was happy that Lin volunteered to be the event's first ambassador, the Minister believed that Lin will be able to make reading hugely popular throughout Taiwan, from cities to remote areas, thanks to her fame and friendliness.
In addition to promote reading in Taipei, Lin is also scheduled to read and watch films with parents and children in the eastern Taiwanese county of Taitung, Minister Lung said.
She pointed out that some towns in Taiwan still do not have a single bookstore. Even the eastern county of Taitung does not even have a cinema. She expressed hopes on how the reading campaign will bring more cultural resources such as books and movies to Taitung.
Lin will give away books to nearly 100 children from the areas devastated by the 2009 Typhoon Morakot. Volunteers from other fields will take turns to help promote the "new wave of reading” all year round.