As
a child I read a lot until I entered middle school. There was no Young Adult
genre and I found there was little to choose from in the Adult Fiction section
(Stephen King) so I read mainly newspapers, magazines, biographies, and books
about history and music until I went to college. I enjoyed reading J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series (for me I consider the
beginning of the YA genre) and because I took a couple of English courses I
began reading more classics (i.e., J.D. Salinger's Catcher in the Rye),
poetry, and short stories while waiting in between classes.
In
the past I have read mostly non-fiction but I now am inclined to read fiction
because the subject matter is now more realistic and there are several well
rounded characters to read about. There are also more authors to choose from
after reading a series. Before taking this class I liked reading Mysteries
(Alan Furst, Charlaine Harris), and now I am a fan of the Adventure genre as
well (Louis L'Amour, Dorothy Gilman). Sometimes I select books if they are
recommended by friends or family, I have only read a few e-books and tend to
skim read through the chapters so I still like holding a book in my hand. I
prefer reading books instead of listening to them; however, after this class I
plan to listen to more audiobooks and I think some works should be read aloud
(i.e., The Hobbit).
Since the Internet continues to market/sell books in
a do-it-yourself manner, librarians will have to work with an increasing number
of independent publishers when selecting materials in both print and electronic
formats. Also from the LeGuin article, new authors are being favored over the
talents of authors who have remained loyal to publishers for years. Books are
getting more exposure online and do not always add up to more sales (2008, 38).
I don’t necessarily think the overall quality of books has changed but I realize
that the genres have shifted in the last decade to appeal to patrons. Fiction
now has fast paced plots and more stories are written in a literal, conversational
style of writing. With nonfiction books I currently see less description and they
include more graphics, charts, and/or photos to entice visual readers. It is
essential for librarians to find a balance with the book’s content and
popularity as well as cost.
Libraries and avid readers are already posting their
recommended reading lists on social sites like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest,
You Tube, and message boards on online forums to encourage reading. Earlier in
the semester there were comments on how libraries are benefiting by offering
"Come Meet the Author" book discussion groups that allow the
community to visit the library and talk about books. Because there are more
genres that reflect on the multicultural society we live in patrons want to
read more often from multiple collections, and in print, audiobook, or e-book
format they can read at their own convenience. Patrons continuously need to be aware
that there are more choices in the library when finding a book to read.
References
Le
Guin, U. K. (2008, February). Staying awake: notes on the alleged decline of
reading. Harper's Magazine, 316(1893).
