A recent study shows that reading literature is on a downslide, with about 20 million people less in 2002 than in 1982.

These numbers are disturbing to people for a lot of very good reasons. Methods of reversing this trend, however, aren’t easy to come by.

That’s why it’s heartening to see the Selma-Dallas County Library join with Selma City and Dallas County Schools to increase the numbers of readers in the area.

In yesterday’s paper, head librarian Becky Nichols announced a new program to get library cards to every first grader in Dallas County.

While the plan is ambitious, Nichols has also enlisted the help of reading specialists Gwen Carrington and Mary Lane Peel, of the Dallas County and Selma school systems respectively.

Both are involved in the Alabama Reading Initiative, a widely acknowledged program for increasing readers throughout Alabama.

Both systems exhibit their dedication to the project through the help of these two educators.

While it’s not expected that Dallas County first-graders will begin their reading experience with Herodutus’ “Histories,” it’s a more than feasible goal that by going to the library and checking out “Where the Wild Thing’s Are” could lead to much bigger things for Dallas County and everyone involved.

The STJ fully supports the efforts of the library, Selma Schools and Dallas County Schools. Hopefully, more efforts to increase the number of readers, literary or otherwise, will continue.