Comment on "National Library to share digital books" (China Daily, Jan 31)

It's good to know that National Library of China will share more than 1 million books, documents, periodicals, photographs, videos and education materials with other libraries in the country. It shows how important books are in Chinese culture.

The importance of sharing reading materials is rarely highlighted by the media in the United States. Instead, reports on celebrities' pregnancies and their private lives hog the limelight.

Students in Camden, New Jersey, which has one of the highest poverty and crime rates in the United States, don't have access to up-to-date school materials. They have outdated reading materials and textbooks, and nobody really seems to be doing anything to change the sorry state of affairs. Camden authorities say the city's budget doesn't have provisions for giving with new books, which sounds incredible in today's world.

I feel the US should use China as an example to give everyone access to reading materials and put more emphasis on important books and educational materials.

Shannon Sihol, via e-mail

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(China Daily 02/19/2013 page9)