Reading Across Borders (RAB) Verónica Abud Social Entrepreneur in Latin America Schwab Foundation

Reading Across Borders: the inspiration “Books and the act of reading constitute the pillars of education and the dissemination of knowledge, the democratization of culture and collective and individual empowerment on the most essential human scale.” UNESCO, World Education Report. Madrid: UNESCO/Santillana, 2000.

What needs to be redesigned in the world today? A failure on the government level to prioritize culture as a tool for effecting change. The rise in violence, prejudice, xenophobia, nationalism and discrimination. The ever-shrinking numbers of adults who read books. The predominance of movies, TV and digital games that have eclipsed books as a source of education and entertainment.

What needs to be redesigned in the book business? Many successful publishers, in an effort to compete with mass media, sacrifice meaningful stories in favor of profit. The concept of books as products rather than cultural treasures. The absence of meaningful criteria for determining what books deserve to be translated. The colonial dilemma: far more often it is books from the developed world that are translated for the developing world. Compelling children’s books that do get translated are exceedingly expensive, making good literature a luxury for most people.

Reading Across Borders: our proposal RAB is, in essence, quite a simple idea: a digital library of thought-provoking, inspiring, entertaining, engaging children’s books and stories from around the world, translated from and into a variety of different languages, and made available through a web-based format that represents a paradigm shift in the way literature circulates, but which also ensures that the legal rights of the original publisher, author, illustrator and translator will be protected.

Reading Across Borders: project details Web-based platform of books and stories for children and young adults. All texts to be translated into six UNESCO languages. International council of advisors for selecting texts. Alliances with IBBY, UNICEF, UNESCO, and other organizations. Contract and fee for authors, illustrators and translators. Texts available in three formats: Free-of-charge read-only screen view. PDF for download and one-time-only printing, subject to a nominal fee. Print-ready digital files for institutions wishing to print and distribute books for non-commercial use, subject to contract and fee

Reading Across Borders: our philosophy and goals To awaken a passion for reading among the world’s youngest people. To envision literature as a bridge to understanding between cultures. To regard books as powerful tools for stimulating creative, critical thinking, empathy, respect and tolerance. To encourage children to develop a curiosity about people from other countries and cultures. To celebrate the value of reading as a road toward deeper understanding of oneself.

Reading Across Borders: why a digital platform? Access. The digital format makes literature accessible to people for whom bound books are an impossible luxury. Simplicity. The digital format eliminates the complication and expense of exporting, shipping and storing books. Innovation. This proposal offers the paradigm shift needed in book publishing, which has yet to take full advantage of electronic book formats. Flexibility. On the web, the project can easily grow to incorporate more age groups, categories, and languages. Community. The digital platform is the best way to form a community of readers who believe in and support this endeavor.

Reading Across Borders: next steps Step One: Fundación Imagen de Chile is interested to finance the first phase of project development, which will entail a feasibility study (legal, technological, logistical) and prototype. Step Two: Obtain the financing needed to carry out and launch RAB. Step Three: Create the appropriate nonprofit entity for the project. Step Four: Develop and launch the project.

Reading Across Borders: contact and information For more information, please visit: www.readingacrossborders.org www.fundacionlafuente.cl Or contact: Verónica Abud Executive Director, Fundación La Fuente Email: vabud@fundacionlafuente.cl