The Regional Secretary for Education and Culture stated in Ponta Delgada that the regional reading programme designated as "Azores Reading," which congregates the Regional Reading Plan, the Public Reading Network and the Network of Regional School Libraries, is a plan "against illiteracy." 

Avelino Meneses spoke at the presentation of this programme aimed at improving the strategy of ProSucesso - Azores for Education, a programme for the promotion of school success. On the occasion, he stressed that the creation of the "Azores Reading" acknowledges "the relevance of reading skills." 

"Improving the level of literacy of Azoreans by encouraging reading habits from the earliest ages and throughout life, whenever necessary with the help of mediators," is one of the main goals of this programme, added the government official. 

For the Regional Secretary, this programme is also a "tribute to books" that alters, to some extent, the traditional concept of library, which "used to be understood as a set of books congregated in a single space, but it is now understood as a community of readers with different demands." 

Coordinated by the Regional Directorate for Culture, under the under the administration of the Regional Secretariat for Education and Culture, the "Azores Reading" project includes the Regional Directorate for Education in the "alignment of goals" with ProSucesso - Azores for Education. It also "calls for" the participation of other governmental departments, namely the Regional Secretariat for Social Solidarity in its Strategy to Combat Poverty and Social Exclusion, said Avelino Meneses. 

In this context, the Regional Secretary stated that, from the beginning of schooling and throughout life, reading is "the main tool" in acquiring knowledge and should involve everyone. 

This programme, which is subdivided into four sub-programmes for different audiences, covering all age groups, is managed by a coordinating committee and a scientific council.