Porch Reads: Encouraging Recreational Reading Among College Students.

Author(s)

Heidi Gauder, University of DaytonFollow
Joan Giglierano, University of DaytonFollow
Christine Schramm, University of DaytonFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2007

Publication Source

College & Undergraduate Libraries

Abstract

Leisure reading in America has declined in the last 20 years, especially among 18 to 24 year olds. Studies show, however, that a positive relationship exists between college students' academic achievement and the time they spend in recreational reading. Reading for pleasure improves reading comprehension, writing style, vocabulary, spelling, and grammatical development. Librarians at the Roesch Library, University of Dayton (OH), collaborated with colleagues in Residence Education on a yearlong pilot recreational reading program to address this cultural shift on a small scale. Porches, informal gathering places familiar to students, served as an appropriate theme for the program's goal of bringing people together to talk about books. This project found that with just a little bit of motivation and encouragement, students are willing to read for fun.

Inclusive pages

1-24

ISBN/ISSN

10691316

Volume

14

Issue

2

Peer Reviewed

yes

Keywords

academic libraries, college students, leisure reading

eCommons Citation

Heidi Gauder, Joan Giglierano, and Christine Schramm (2007). Porch Reads: Encouraging Recreational Reading Among College Students.. College & Undergraduate Libraries. , 1-24
https://ecommons.udayton.edu/roesch_fac/16