diff --git a/setup.cfg b/setup.cfg
index bd45d72..190da85 100644
--- a/setup.cfg
+++ b/setup.cfg
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [metadata]
 name = pyaro_readers
-version = 0.0.10.dev4
+version = 0.0.10.dev5
 author = MET Norway
 description = implementations of pyaerocom reading plugings using pyaro as interface
 long_description = file: README.md
diff --git a/src/pyaro_readers/harpreader/harpreader.py b/src/pyaro_readers/harpreader/harpreader.py
index 4116667..78ee631 100644
--- a/src/pyaro_readers/harpreader/harpreader.py
+++ b/src/pyaro_readers/harpreader/harpreader.py
@@ -73,6 +73,9 @@ def __init__(
         else:
             self._files.append(file)
 
+    def read(self):
+        """reading method"""
+
         bar = tqdm(total=len(self._files))
 
         for f_idx, _file in enumerate(self._files):
@@ -84,7 +87,7 @@ def __init__(
                 # skip coordinate names
                 if _var in self.COORD_NAMES:
                     continue
-                if vars_to_read is not None and _var not in vars_to_read:
+                if self._vars_to_read is not None and _var not in self._vars_to_read:
                     logger.info(f"Skipping {_var}")
                     continue
                 if _var not in self._data:
@@ -238,3 +241,6 @@ def description(self):
 
     def url(self):
         return "https://github.com/metno/pyaro-readers"
+
+    def read(self):
+        return self.reader_class().read()
diff --git a/tests/test_HARPReader.py b/tests/test_HARPReader.py
index 2820d62..d70decc 100644
--- a/tests/test_HARPReader.py
+++ b/tests/test_HARPReader.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ class TestHARPReader(unittest.TestCase):
     )
 
     testdata_dir = (
-        "/lustre/storeB/project/aerocom/aerocom1/AEROCOM_OBSDATA/CNEMC/aggregated/"
+        "/lustre/storeB/project/aerocom/aerocom1/AEROCOM_OBSDATA/SINCA/aggregated/"
     )
     test_vars = ["PM10_density", "CO_volume_mixing_ratio", "PM2p5_density"]
     test_units = ["ug m-3", "ppm", "ug m-3"]
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ def test_1read(self):
             self.file,
             vars_to_read=self.test_vars,
         ) as ts:
+            ts.read()
             for _v_idx, var in enumerate(self.test_vars):
                 data = ts.data(var)
                 self.assertGreater(len(data), 10000)
@@ -44,6 +45,7 @@ def test_2open_directory(self):
             with pyaro.open_timeseries(
                 self.engine, self.testdata_dir, filters=[], vars_to_read=self.test_vars
             ) as ts:
+                ts.read()
                 for _v_idx, var in enumerate(self.test_vars):
                     data = ts.data(var)
                     assert isinstance(data.units, str)