“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” ― Dr. Seuss
“Great writers always start out as great readers”. – John Gregory
It is a truth universally acknowledged that the more you read the more you know. You don’t have to take my word for it. Dr. Seuss agrees and so do numerous educational studies and educators. Scholars point out numerous reasons to justify the importance of reading.
Using graphic texts to encourage reading has been widely discussed and accepted among educators and librarians. Reading exposes a person to new ideas, improves understanding, can create empathy, and develops vocabulary which can lead to better communication skills.
Furthermore, reading exposes the reader to a world of imagination, showing them that nothing is impossible in this world. By reading, one explores a different angle to see a thing you’ve known, or how different actions lead to different results.
Studies show that reading for pleasure makes a big difference in an individual’s educational performance. Likewise, evidence suggests that students who read for enjoyment every day not only perform better in reading tests than those who do not, but also develop a broader vocabulary, increased general knowledge and a better understanding of other cultures.
Educators uniformly agree that an increase in reading increases vocabulary, increases the ability to read and write, and results in better grammar and better spelling. The library is a major source of reading material for many students. It’s worth noting that “liber,” the Latin root of the word “library,” means both “book” and “free.” When students have an opportunity to choose reading materials, they have more ownership in their education and make reading a priority. Fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary increase when students have a greater desire to read more regularly.
A goal of any school librarian is to create lifelong readers and by extension lifelong learners. To encourage reading, Skinner Library is acquiring more YA fiction and marking them with a bright YA sticker. We’ve also established a separate shelf for Graphic Novels within the Fiction collection. So, if you have suggestions or recommendations for any books or authors that you would like the library to acquire, please let me know. Send an email to [email protected] or just stop by the Library and tell me your suggestions for new library materials.