The Need to Read: An Unexpected Demand of the New Generation at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT)

The new generation of users is often typified as ‘digital natives’, and seen as being characterized by a technology-driven lifestyle with an emphasis on the use of technology. This has been seen to affect the behavior and needs of users. In particular, there has been a strong emphasis on the effect of the new generation’s demands for electronic access on the collection development practices of universities. However, in the context of South African education a paradox has arisen. Many of the students at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology come from a specific educational background, characterized by a poor reading culture and in some instances a lack of printed reading material. In a surprising move this has actually led to lecturers demanding print material for use by students as recreational reading with the aim of improving language ability. This paper outlines how this demand was articulated and then realized by the library, including a description of some of the mechanisms by which the demand was determined. The reaction to these demands, in changes to the collection development of the library so as to promote the provision of suitable material is outlined. The effect on the new generation of the provision of reading material and their response to this material as determined by a focused survey is shown. Finally recommendations are made, including that for a clearer distinction between different populations within a single generation, which can include both digital natives and para-digital natives. Keyword: Reading; digital natives; collection development; fiction