To avoid a long wait and a possible argument with a moody taxi driver, Reem a 34-year-old who works in the  sector, called a transportation company. When the car pulled up, she saw an unusual sign: “Beware! This taxi provides books.”

After telling the driver her destination she noticed a sack full of books behind the driver’s seat. She was not used to reading while travelling, but she was pleasantly surprised. She was even more delighted to find a Paul Coelho novel she loves.

To avoid a long wait and a possible argument with a moody taxi driver, Reem a 34-year-old who works in the  sector, called a transportation company. When the car pulled up, she saw an unusual sign: “Beware! This taxi provides books.”

After telling the driver her destination she noticed a sack full of books behind the driver’s seat. She was not used to reading while travelling, but she was pleasantly surprised. She was even more delighted to find a Paul Coelho novel she loves.

“I was fascinated because I come from a family that praises reading and loves books,” said Reem. “The idea looks creative and can gradually tempt people to the pleasures of reading.”

Let’s read

The first of its kind in Tunisia, the taxi reading initiative was the result of a recent collaboration between  ylla.read (let’s read) website  and a taxi company.

Ahmad Al-Hadhari, 24, the ylla.read website developer, said his passion for reading made him think of launching a project that provides Arabic and foreign books via the Internet.

“Readers often face challenges like a lack of books or unaffordable books,” said Al-Hadhari. “That is why I planned to establish an electronic library enabling readers to lend and borrow different books.”

The project idea crystallised after Al-Hadhari participated in a number of contests for start ups. He eventually found a partner who liked the idea and helped Al-Hadhari launch Tunisia’s first reading platform.

Users of the site have to establish a private account by providing some personal data and reading preferences as well as a list of the paper books they own. This enables the subscriber to navigate the site as if in a library.

The website also allows for individual evaluation criteria such as: responsiveness to communications, compliance with the time limits, and maintenence of books, which gives an idea about each subscriber.

But the project is not limited to the e-library; it targets all Tunisians everywhere and at all times, like in the backseat of a taxi.

A non-reading culture

The idea fills an obvious need amongst a population that barely reads hardly buys books. A recent poll by Emrhod Consulting showed that 14 per cent of respondents (a sample representing different social groups in Tunisia) bought only one book in 2016 while 82 per cent had never bought a book at all.

Unlike some Arab countries, book prices in Tunisia are so high that reading has become a luxury, leading to other initiatives to encourage young readers.

Activist Amal Bedhyefi, or example, start vlogging on Youtube to attract readers.  She posts video book reviews, explaining the books’ content and importance. She has thousands of followers.

“Every day, I receive tens of letters from followers who have seen my videos,” says Amal. “I play this role because there are numerous youth who need motivation to read and they need recommendations about the best affordable content.”