Reading, Risk, and Reality: College Students and Reading for Pleasure

Julie Gilbert is Academic Librarian, Assistant Professor, and Barbara Fister is Academic Librarian, Professor, at the Folke Bernadotte Memorial Library at Gustavus Adolphus College; e-mail: Jgilber2@gustavus. edu,[email protected].© Julie Gilbert and Barbara Fister News reports and well-publicized government studies have led to a popular perception that reading is an endangered activity, particularly among youth. In this study we surveyed college students, librarians, and college writing instructors about students’ attitudes toward reading for pleasure, examine barriers to voluntary reading among college students, and explore academic libraries’ potential role in promoting reading. Our findings suggest that students have a far higher interest in reading than is typically believed and recommend steps academic librarians can take to encourage reading for lifelong learning.