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AMMAN — Officials in Salt have taken a step towards implementing a cultural initiative aimed at making the city Jordan’s first official "Reading City."
The project, led by the “grassroots” initiative "Salt Reads," seeks to promote reading as part of daily life through community-based access to books, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.
In a meeting held on Wednesday, Chairman of the Balqa Governorate Council Ibrahim Awamleh discussed implementation strategies with initiative founder Mohammad Khreisat, Balqa Culture Director Wasfi Tawil and a group of young volunteers leading the effort.
Khreisat said that the project envisions the installation of free-access book boxes in public spaces, allowing residents to borrow and share books at no cost, with the aim of making reading an everyday routine and increasing community engagement with literature.
Awamleh voiced the council’s support for the project, pledging institutional support to help ensure its “successful” launch and long-term sustainability.
He stressed the importance of civic collaboration, praising the initiative as an example of youth-led action capable of driving meaningful social change.
Tawil underlined the directorate’s role in supporting and facilitating the initiative, highlighting its commitment to promoting cultural development in the Balqa Governorate.
During the meeting, volunteers presented several proposals, including ideas for implementation phases, suitable locations for the reading boxes, and complementary activities aimed at engaging the broader public, such as public readings, school partnerships and reading challenges.
The project is part of a broader movement in Salt to enhance civic participation through cultural initiatives, where supporters hope it will serve as a “model” for other cities in the Kingdom.