I realize I’m entirely preaching to the choir here, but: books are good! Having a large number of books in the house as kids grow up yields all kinds of benefits! Sure, we are library people and we know this stuff in our hearts. But it’s always good to see research agreeing with us!

This is a good reminder to be thinking about what everyone in every library can do to work on getting more books in more hands. Not every kid can have hundreds of books in their home; but every single kid can have books from the library.

(Yes: we’re pretty awesome!)

Check out this article from Smithsonian.org:

Growing Up Surrounded by Books Could Have Powerful, Lasting Effect on the Mind

“Research has already suggested that opening a book may help improve brain function, reduce stress, and even make us more empathetic. Now, a team led by Joanna Sikora of the Australian National University is looking into the benefits of growing up around a book-filled environment; as Alison Flood of the Guardian reports, the researchers’ expansive new study suggests that homes with ample libraries can arm children with skills that persist into adulthood.

The study, published recently in Social Science Research, assessed data from 160,000 adults from 31 countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, Turkey, Japan and Chile. Participants filled out surveys with the Programme for the International Assessment of Competencies, which measures proficiency in three categories: literacy, numeracy (using mathematical concepts in everyday life) and information communication technology, (using digital technology to communicate with other people, and to gather and analyze information)….

“The effects were most marked when it came to literacy. Growing up with few books in the home resulted in below average literacy levels. Being surrounded by 80 books boosted the levels to average, and literacy continued to improve until libraries reached about 350 books, at which point the literacy rates leveled off. The researchers observed similar trends when it came to numeracy; the effects were not as pronounced with information communication technology tests, but skills did improve with increased numbers of books.

So, what are the implications of the new study? Take, for instance, adults who grew up with hardly any books in the home, but went on to obtain a university degree in comparison to an adult who grew up with a large home library, but only had nine years of schooling. The study found that both of their literacy levels were roughly average. “So, literacy-wise, bookish adolescence makes up for a good deal of educational advantage,” the study authors write.”

What can you do get books in hands? If you have ideas, but are not sure how to implement them; or if you want to talk about ideas your library can use, let’s talk! CMLE is here to help you in your work and to help your library to be successful for your community!