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SALT LAKE CITY — Recent reports show that interest in reading has been steadily declining over the years. Some analysts wonder if personal electronic devices might be partly to blame. But, librarians say there are some good ways to get teens interested in books over the summer.
Representatives with Common Sense Media have been quoted as saying they believe tablets could be part of the reason for the decline in interest. Even though these devices are designed to make reading easier, some people believe they provide too many other distractions, keeping teens from reading.
Utah Library Association President-Elect Dustin Fife says taking the tablet away might cause even more problems, however.
“If they want to read on a tablet, let them read on a tablet," Fife said. "If they want to listen to audiobooks, let them listen to audiobooks.”
Fife says the format doesn’t really matter and that reading is reading.
“The first thing you can do is not undercut or discount the reading that they do," Fife noted. "Don’t push (against) the comic books or whatever they are willing to read, even if it’s the back of a box of cereal. Don’t try to force that away from them.”
Don’t push (against) ... whatever they are willing to read, even if it’s the back of a box of cereal.
–Dustin Fife
And, there are other ways to spark a teen’s interest in books. Fife says playing video games that involve a lot of storytelling could help, and even playing board games could do the trick.
“Play ‘Dungeons and Dragons’ with them and then try to link that into reading fantasy novels and fantasy fiction,” Fife added.
It might be helpful for parents to take their kids to things like museums and art festivals as well. Fife says that strategy could work in attracting one group of kids that’s normally very hard to attract.
“Boys from the age of ten to 18, so even pre-teens, are the hardest group to capture for reading purposes,” Fife said.
Libraries across the state have good lists of books that teens would likely enjoy. Fortunately, Fife says interest in reading among Utah teens is still quite high.
