Imagine having access to tens of thousands of books and giving them all away for nothing. That is precisely what cultural historian and author Sofia Akel did. She argues that reading should not be a privilege.
The 28-year-old has always enjoyed reading, and she frequently frequented the library near her childhood home in East London.
She claims she was able to “nurture my thinking as a child” here.
But, as Sofia grew older, she realized that not everyone had easy access to books, as many could not purchase them.
Thus, she founded the Free Books Campaign, a non-profit organization devoted to providing books by authors of color to those who cannot purchase them.
Since its inception in 2020, it has distributed 6,000 books to individuals in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Anyone may request a book they wish to read. The organization is supported by donations, and if it has the funds, it will purchase and ship the book.
“[Reading] should be something that everyone has access to, in the same way that education should not be a privilege,” she argues.
Sofia Akel is able to sympathize because she wouldn’t be where she is today if she hadn’t had access to a library on her doorstep.
My worldview, inventiveness, and vocabulary would have been substantially diminished.
Tips from Sofia for reading more
Page Contents
- Don’t put pressure on oneself
- Try podcasts or audiobooks – they still constitute a sort of reading.
- Try extended articles
- Reserve 10 minutes each morning.
- Reading anthologies, which are collections of works or poems, can be a fantastic method to begin started with reading because each story is often no longer than 10 pages.
The entire campaign is based on trust, something Sofia takes great delight in.
Sofia Akel states,
“All we want is that you cannot buy or obtain books on your own.” “No one is in a position to determine if another person’s claims of cost or accessibility are valid, in my opinion.
“Growing up, I have experienced what it is like to be on the other side.
It is very crucial that these things are accessible and that you do not have to jump through so many hoops to gain access to a book.
According to recent data, it may be more difficult to obtain books from a library.
According to the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accounting (CIPFA), English, Welsh, and Scottish library book stockpiles declined by 11% between 2021 and 2022.
Sofia places great value on accessibility
She also organized the Free Books festival in Peckham, south-east London, with Broccoli Productions, a media production business, to ensure that people were aware of the initiative.
Over the course of a weekend, they distributed approximately 3,000 books.
Sofia is concerned that book festivals are frequently held in rural or “grand” settings where one “must pay hundreds of pounds.”
She claims that everything was free. “Absolutely everything Everyone was then permitted to take home two books.”
With her pals, Estelle, a biochemistry graduate, attended the festival. The 22-year-old believes it is essential that such events occur.
“Given the current cost of living crisis, when I do have additional money, I would rather invest it somewhere,” she says.
“Even though I enjoy reading, I wouldn’t spend my money on books because it wouldn’t be one of my top priorities.
“But, thanks to events like these, I am still able to pursue my passion for reading and discover new titles.”
What books did Estelle take home with her?
“Angela Chadwick’s XX. That one had a tenuous scientific connection “she says. “And I chose Kasim Ali’s Good Intentions. He was present at the occasion, and he autographed my book.
It was incredibly amazing to meet the author of a book I’ve read for the first time ever.
‘Taking advantage’
Despite the program’s effectiveness, Sofia reports that some individuals have attempted to exploit it.
“Sometimes you can tell someone to take two or three books, and then you’ll see them with a mountain of books,” she explains. “And you simply need to remind them that they are expected to be communal.
She continues,
“But, I’ve discovered that the ones who have truly benefited from it have taken the time and care to ensure that they only take what is permitted.”
“They actually engage you in dialogue about what it means to them to be able to do so.
So, I’ve discovered that the good exceeds the bad.
Listen to the most recent episode of If You Don’t Know to learn more about Sofia’s Free Books Campaign.
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