Despite the accessibility of many games and social media platforms, reading still remains a fun and edifying hobby, as a number of UPrep students will argue.
The UPrep library houses 8324 books, according to Library Director Annie Bingham, but students do not frequently check out books, except for school assignments. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that Americans are reading fewer books and spending more time on screens, and even academically inclined institutions, such as UPrep, have not been spared.
To complicate the matter, some people who enjoy reading consider books to be outdated, preferring to read e-books instead.
Sophomore Sophie Freno believes that e-books are useful because they are easily transportable, but she prefers physical books.
“I feel like when I’m carrying a book around, it makes me more inclined to actually read it,” Freno said.
Freno enjoys reading for many reasons, such as the escapism books can offer, but also the practical benefits.
“I feel like it helps me improve my writing,” said Freno.
Sophomore Noah Keppler agrees that books help academic development.
“It increases your vocabulary and your ability to articulate yourself,” Keppler said.
Kepler also has a pragmatic reason for favoring printed books; he reads to relax before sleeping, and finds that printed books are better for this.
“Screens, they don’t help you wind down,” Kepler said.
Sophomore Saul Kaplan believes that reading on paper is preferable to reading on a screen due to the negative effects of screens.
“Being on screens 30 minutes to an hour before bed is actually harmful to your sleep,” Saul Kaplan said.
A study from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health found that the use of screens in bed increases the risk of insomnia by 59% and decreases the quality of sleep, regardless of what the screen is used for.
Another survey from the Pew Research Center found that younger people were over twice as likely to read e-books compared to seniors, while only 11% were more likely to read printed books. Every age group was more likely to read printed books than e-books, but the youngest age group had the smallest difference.
While reading is becoming less common, UPrep students will continue to read in their free time. Reading is very important to many students, according to Librarian Aimee Miles, and UPrep students are unlikely to stop reading soon.
“When [students] love a book, they love it with their whole heart,” Miles said.
Book Recommendations from Students:
- The Road
- The Adventures of Tin-Tin
- The Assassin’s Apprentice
- The Way of Kings
