If you are reading this article, you are probably not among the growing percentage of college-aged Americans who are reading less.
According to a survey released by the National Endowment for the Arts in July, only 57 percent of Americans read a book in 2002.
The study "Reading at Risk" found the number of adults reading literary works declined over the last decade. The greatest decline was seen in adults ages 18 to 24, whose reading rate dropped 55 percent.
"That statistic is sad for me," nutrition student Megumi Miyajuma said. "I'm an avid reader, and I'd like to see more people read."
Rick Meyer, a professor in the Language, Literacy and Sociocultural Studies Department said 97 percent of the books purchased last year were bought by 3 percent of the country.
Meyer said it appears people don't read books, but more reading is going on than the study might suggest.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
The study's results are based on the literature segment of the Survey of Public Participation in the Arts conducted by the Census Bureau in 2002, according to a news release.
The 17,000 adults surveyed were asked if they had read any literary works in the past year in their leisure time.
The results were compared with similar studies done in 1982 and 1992.
The study showed a decline in reading in both genders, although women read more than men, according to the news release.
The report also shows literary reading among whites, African Americans and Hispanics is also declining, with Hispanics experiencing the greatest drop 10 percentage points.
People's education level was also shown to affect their reading rate. Those with a graduate degree were five times more likely to read a book than someone with a grade level education.
Income level and the amount of television watched in a day were also contributing factors to the decline of literary reading.
"It's a sad comment on society, but it's not surprising," said Jennifer Kavka, a program manager in the Biology Department. "I see our society turning toward electronic sources."
She said people were getting their information from the Internet rather than from newspapers and books.
Graduate student Blake Gibson said it is tough for books to compete with the Internet when there is such easy access to it.
Dave Herzel, operations manager at Zimmerman Library, said there was a 5 percent to 6 percent drop in book checkouts in the last academic year due to a higher availability of electronic sources.
"It's not so much that this generation reads less or is less informed, there are just more options," Herzel said.
He said he's not surprised by the study, adding that people are still using bookstores and libraries.
"The book is still good," Herzel said. "Don't give up on it."
