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Monday, September 22, 2025

A Decline in Reading and What We Can Do About it



                                    


You may have read the Boston Globe article this summer that reported fewer people are reading for fun. As a high school librarian who has personally witnessed this trend over the past several years, this information did not surprise me, although it did make me sad. A recently published article written by linguist Naomi S Barron suggests a correlation between the advanced capabilities of AI in summarizing texts as a contributor to the decline in reading. An increase in the use of social media has also been suggested as a contributing factor. 

So what can we to do? 

  • Serve as role models by talking to students about what you might be reading or listening to outside of school

  • Post a "currently reading" sign outside your classroom

  • Reach out to me so we can arrange a date for your PowerBlock to come to the Media Center to borrow books 


  • Encourage reluctant readers to listen to audiobooks or read graphic novels. Both formats "count" as reading!

  • Graphic Novels are available in print format from the high school Media Center. Digital Graphic Novels are available via Sora, and ComicsPlus (BPL)

  • Provide opportunities for students to get extra credit points for sharing magazine articles that support the curriculum. Students (and teachers) have full-text access to digital magazines via Sora, PressReader (BPL), Flipster (BPL), and Libby (BPL)
  • I'm in the process of compiling a sortable list of digital magazines, topics, and which platform(s) to use to access them. Here is a preview: Which Platform has which content
What suggestions would you add to this list? Let me know in the comments. 

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