Book Theft

Colombians aren’t big readers, it’s a fact. Dozens of educational groups in Colombia are trying to encourage literacy and the practice of reading. Just yesterday I was talking to a friend involved in one of these organizations and often the issues stem from children never seeing their parents pick up a book.

Another big issue is that books in Colombia are expensive there is no doubt about it. More expensive than the average paperback in the United States. How can people read if they can’t afford a book? Libraries are slowly growing, and so is the literacy rate- but there is still an absence.

Yet, it seems as though the opposite problem has occurred as well- a serious amount of book theft. In many bookstores you can no longer bring in a purse or a bag, or anything. Coming to browse books in this bookstore in Bogotá requires you to leave all belongings and jackets inside a locker.



Of all things, books shouldn’t be something people should have to steal. I have to say, I was rather surprised, the security guard shrugged expressionless and said “Así se tiene que hacer en Colombia, that’s how we have to do it in Colombia.”