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Article
Porch Reads: Encouraging Recreational Reading Among College Students.
College & Undergraduate Libraries
  • Heidi Gauder, University of Dayton
  • Joan Giglierano, University of Dayton
  • Christine Schramm, University of Dayton
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2007
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
Peer Reviewed
Yes
Keywords
  • academic libraries,
  • college students,
  • leisure reading
Citation Information
Heidi Gauder, Joan Giglierano and Christine Schramm. "Porch Reads: Encouraging Recreational Reading Among College Students." College & Undergraduate Libraries Vol. 14 Iss. 2 (2007)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/heidi_gauder/2/