The New England Consortium criteria of excellence are 26 statements of conditions which describe a quality reading program and which must exist if all children are to learn to read. These statements are grouped under five goal areas, the fifth of which, fostering reading interests, is treated in this position paper. The paper supports attainment of the following criteria for this goal area: the school reading program recognizes the importance of personal, independent reading and promotes this type of reading in a variety of ways, and the library promotes reading among all segments of the population. (JM)