Reading on the Rise

Books are back!

On Monday the National Endowment for the Arts released a report, "Reading on the Rise," showing the first increase in adult fiction reading since 1982. According to the New York Times, this recent rise in reading is "not a school-based trend but a broader, community-wide phenomenon."

Read the full New York Times article for more information and a link to the NEA report:
Fiction Reading Increases for Adults
By MOTOKO RICH
January 12, 2009

While experts are speculating about the causes of this rise in reading, Dana Gioia, the chairman of the NEA, names community-wide reading programs as key components in reversing the decline in reading. The NEA started The Big Read program in 2006 to combat the accelerating decline in literary reading. The Big Read offers the opportunity for a community to come together by reading one book, discussing it together, and attending related events over the course of a month.

Here in the Palo Alto area we have our very own community-wide month-long reading program, Silicon Valley Reads, now in its seventh year. Participate in building community literacy by reading this year's book selection, Not a Genuine Black Man, and then join us for our kick-off event with the book's author:

An Evening With Brian Copeland

Wednesday, January 28
6:30 p.m.
Palo Alto High School Haymarket Theater

photo attribution:
"There Is Creative Reading"
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10565597@N00/2788065166