Libraries and reading are good for you!

[blogcutter]

Warning: Libraries and reading may have beneficial effects on your health. This according to a Japanese study:

https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20250624/p2a/00m/0li/017000c

Interestingly enough, libraries can benefit even non-readers, which I guess makes sense too, given the services and community spaces many libraries have on offer, apart from their collections.

According to this study, the benefits are particularly apparent when it comes to seniors:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352827325000163

In any case, if I ever reach the stage when I need to be in a nursing home, I'll go willingly ... provided the home has a well-stocked and well-staffed on-site library!

Comments

[cmcmck]

Who knew? :o)

[extraarcha]

Yes, i ran across this jewel a while back re: libraries.
My thing is that it seems to me that i'm at odds with those who stock the libraries. Sure, tastes differ is one issue.
For me, the other main issue is i've only read a book twice less than the fingers on one hand. I just can't get into a story i read before. Part of that i suspect is from 8th grade when i was put in an early experimental English class that wanted to improve reading ability. It turned out that reading way to slow is a major reason some don't like reading - they don't get the story and they don't recall much of anything they've read. What i tested out is that (back then, anyway) i'm reading at top speed and recall at nearly 100% of what i've read. Yes they tested for recall and comprehension.

While i do love a library, finding new and worthwhile reads is a serious problem.
YMMV.

[blogcutter]

It's certainly true that public library branches vary considerably in the size and amount of variety in their collections. I don't know what area you live in or whether it's urban, suburban, rural or whatever. In my case, if I want a specific book, I just add my name to a waiting list. I also make purchase suggestions (sometimes they accept them, sometimes not, but they always reply, indicating their decision). And then there's alway interlibrary loan.

Of course, none of the above suggestions are of much help if you like to just browse the stacks and select whatever catches your fancy that day - which I do a lot of! For general browsing, about all I can suggest is to visit various branches within your library system and see which ones are best for you. Many libraries also have second-hand bookshops within or attached to them. Their wares are usually very low-cost, sometimes with a few items that are free for the taking. And typically they're run by volunteers or are self-serve, and the proceeds typically go into enriching the library's collection budget, so it's win-win.