Young Kids Still Read Print Books, Study Says

A new study from the Pew Research Center finds that young Americans are still flocking to print books, despite an industry trend towards digital e-books.

According to an agency press release, “Americans under age 30 are strong supporters of traditional library services.” Those services include in-person assistance and print books.

Pew found that teens and adults ages 16 to 29 were more likely to have read a book in print in the past year than people 30-years and older. According to the study, 75% of people 16 to 29 have read a print book in the last year while only 64% of the other group did the same.

Pew Research also found that the younger demographic was more likely to have visited a library in the last year and to have received help from a librarian.

The study also found that younger library users are “strongly opposed” to automated check-out services when compared to older Americans.

Perhaps because of the cost associated with entry, the study also found that Americans aged 30 to 49 were more likely to own an e-reader or tablet device.

So why the divide between adults and their younger counterparts? It appears that young audiences use traditional research methods in school and then carry those practices over into adulthood. It could also be that younger people are transitioning to e-books and e-readers at a slower pace because of education standards or because of access to limited resources.

In an email to the New Republic, Kathryn Zuckuhr, one of the authors of the study, explains:

“The need to do reading and research for school are definitely part of what’s keeping print the base of many younger Americans’ reading habits.”

As more educational institutions transition to e-readers and tablets, the number of young people using those devices on a regular basis will likely increase. The question now is whether or not print books will still be appreciated in the future.

Do you think print books will always have a place in our culture?