Libraries and reading are good for you!

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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

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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.