The National Book Fair, which came to a close yesterday, is the right occasion to promote reading, a hobby which is unfortunately losing its battle, especially among the younger generations, against modern technological means.

The fair, which perhaps does not get as much media attention as it deserves, aims to create more awareness about the importance of reading, and gives the opportunity to the local book industry to demonstrate its achievements.

Hundreds of students have been taken to visit the fair, while the Maltese Parliament itself thought it fit to officially pay a visit, with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Louis Galea, leading a delegation “as a sign of recognition... and to encourage love of reading and books in Malta”.

Unfortunately, this love for books, and for reading in general, has been experiencing a decline over the past years, especially since the use of computers increased and with it the introduction of all kinds of technological games.

Today’s younger generations are reading less and less, simply because they prefer spending their free time playing computer and television games, surfing the internet or watching television. Twenty, 30 years ago, television stations were few and not on 24 hours a day, and few families, if any, had the luxury of having a computer. Today, we have tens of TV stations going on day and night, a wide variety of games that can be played on computer and/or TV, and the internet – all these are in constant battle against books, and they are winning.

These games and the many TV shows are highly entertaining and probably more fun than reading a book, but it is a real pity that teachers and parents seem unable to instill a love for reading in the children under their care.

Nobody is saying that computer games should be discarded and thrown away, or that TVs have to be switched off, or that one should ignore the positive aspects of the internet. But spare time should not be fully taken up by these activities only; half an hour of reading, perhaps a little bit more, will do a world of good.

Reading opens up anyone’s horizons; it encourages creativity and builds up one’s knowledge; it enables people to form opinions and be able to discuss them; it helps one to mature through getting to know more about the world out there.

Adults must themselves give an example to their children by reading more. There is a better chance that a child enjoys reading if he sees adults around him or her reading too. Books are lovely companions – for one thing, they do not crash, like computers do. And they are easy to carry too. Why not carry a book the next time you go to the hairdresser’s or to the bank, and read it while waiting in the queue? It does not take much. And, rather than flipping between one channel and another, next time just switch off the TV and pick up a book.

It is not enough to promote books and reading once or twice a year – apart from the book fair, the importance of reading gets a mention some time in April when World Book Day is celebrated. People, especially children, need to be encouraged, into reading more.

Some will argue that they consider themselves as “readers” because they surf the internet. Fair enough, there is a lot to read there too. But books are, excuse the pun, a different story.

Now that Christmas is round the corner, and gifts will be given, it would really be a good idea if one of these gifts is a book. Reading is a battle that is worth fighting for.