2008 Woodie Awards
Americans fall behind in book reading
Robyn Jodlowski
Issue date: 9/10/07 Section: News
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According to a poll published in Time magazine last month, a quarter of Americans did not read a single book in 2006.
Karla Kraft, a librarian at Great River Regional Library (GRRL), said this startling number was not surprising to librarians.
"A previous report by the National Endowment for the Arts stated that only 57 percent of adults had read a book in 2002," Kraft said.
Does this mean the United States is a nation with a large population of illiterate buffoons? Not necessarily.
Kraft was quick to point out books are not the only texts Americans might read.
"I think we need to distinguish between reading for entertainment and reading for information," she said. "People are busy, and there are more and more entertainment options available besides books. Some people would rather go fishing, play cards or play computer games. Many of those same people read to satisfy their information needs without reading books."
Technical journals, online articles, newspapers, essays and other types of texts are not considered books, and therefore, perhaps the study's 25 percent is a misleading figure.
"They (non readers according to the study) may read magazines, gather information online or listen to audio books," Kraft said. "GRRL has audio books for people who enjoy listening to books. Many commuters use this service."
In a discussion about reading habits, it is inevitable to
avoid the popular Harry Potter series.
"I read books five and six of Harry Potter this summer, but I read other books too," said fourth year SCSU student Kari Holvik.
The widespread popularity of the boy wizard has become a cultural phenomenon, hooking would be non-readers into the literary world. But will Harry's followers stop reading at the end of the series?
"I would imagine that most people who read the Harry Potter books will continue to read after reading them," Kraft said.
Karla Kraft, a librarian at Great River Regional Library (GRRL), said this startling number was not surprising to librarians.
"A previous report by the National Endowment for the Arts stated that only 57 percent of adults had read a book in 2002," Kraft said.
Does this mean the United States is a nation with a large population of illiterate buffoons? Not necessarily.
Kraft was quick to point out books are not the only texts Americans might read.
"I think we need to distinguish between reading for entertainment and reading for information," she said. "People are busy, and there are more and more entertainment options available besides books. Some people would rather go fishing, play cards or play computer games. Many of those same people read to satisfy their information needs without reading books."
Technical journals, online articles, newspapers, essays and other types of texts are not considered books, and therefore, perhaps the study's 25 percent is a misleading figure.
"They (non readers according to the study) may read magazines, gather information online or listen to audio books," Kraft said. "GRRL has audio books for people who enjoy listening to books. Many commuters use this service."
In a discussion about reading habits, it is inevitable to
avoid the popular Harry Potter series.
"I read books five and six of Harry Potter this summer, but I read other books too," said fourth year SCSU student Kari Holvik.
The widespread popularity of the boy wizard has become a cultural phenomenon, hooking would be non-readers into the literary world. But will Harry's followers stop reading at the end of the series?
"I would imagine that most people who read the Harry Potter books will continue to read after reading them," Kraft said.