The KB and the Collective Promotion for the Dutch Book Foundation (Stichting Collectieve Propaganda van het Nederlandse Boek, CPNB) have signed a cooperation agreement to promote (digital) reading. Over the next 3 years the Online Library is going to be used during several well-known campaigns to promote reading, such as the Children's Book Week. The Online Library is a service provided by the KB.
Campaigns
The services offered by the Online Library will align as much as possible with campaigns to promote reading, such as the National Read Aloud Days, the Children's Book Week and Get The Whole Country Reading (Heel Nederland Leest). The aim is to generate more online and offline visits to libraries.
Occasional readers
Eveline Aendekerk (CPNB) and Wilma van Wezenbeek (KB)
Research shows that although a significant number of Dutch people buy or borrow books, they do not do so very often. The focus of the partnership is mainly on this 'low-frequency' group of readers who the partnership hopes to inspire and help read just that one extra book. These readers often want to read more, but come up against barriers (for example the stress of choosing or a lack of time) which can be easily removed.
The importance of reading
As Mariëlle van Tilburg, Online Library coordinator, explains: "Reading opens doors to new worlds, enriches the mind and connects us to others. Ultimately, of course, we don't care how people read, be that using a physical book, an e-book or an audiobook instead. Nor do those of us who want to promote reading care whether you buy, stream or borrow. However, we want this new cooperation agreement and the resulting campaigns to draw people's attention to the opportunities that exist for digital reading. We have, for example, noticed that by no means everyone is familiar with the services offered by the Online Library. We're pleased with this closer collaboration with the CPNB and we expect it to lead to a number of successful campaigns to promote reading."
