http://english.pravda.ru/main/18/90/359 ... ading.html
Internet and TV gradually oust books from Russian families
11/17/2005 11:07
A lot of Russians do not keep any books in their homes
Despite all the hardships and absurdities of the Soviet era, the Soviets were fully confident (and with good reason) that the USSR was a nation with the highest number of readers. The situation implied a high intellectual potential, an implicit sign of brighter future when we "catch up and leave them behind." However, the situation changed dramatically after perestroika. Nowadays specialists are raising the alarm.
According to an opinion poll commissioned by the Federal Agency for Print Media and Mass Communications (Rospechat), more than a half of Russians do not buy books, one-third of Russian citizens do not keep any books in their homes, and 37 percent of population do not read any books at all.
Books are expensive these days. That is part of the reason behind the decrease in demand for books. A record number of readers (280 thousand) bought books at the latest Moscow Book Fair in September because the prices at the fair were 20-30 percent lower than in bookstores. An average Russian does not attend libraries either. It is hardly a surprise since libraries are normally underfinanced and receive just a few new books every year. ...