Reading Culture Research Articles

Do generation Z students read? Reading habits of the students of Dhaka University

PurposeThe proliferation of digital tools and instant access to information has diversified reading habits among Generation Z (Gen Z) students. The primary objective of this study is to examine the reading habits of Gen Z students at Dhaka University.Design/methodology/approachA survey questionnaire method was employed to collect data from 354 university students. We collected research data through printed questionnaires, and randomly selected students to answer survey questions. A total of 500 printed questionnaires were distributed to the seminar library, university hall library and Dhaka University library. Additional efforts made to engage students in classrooms.FindingsStudents prefer printed materials, particularly fiction and enjoy reading at home. The majority have emerged as dormant readers and prefer using mobile phones for reading. Hobbies and interests have been identified as significant influencers in shaping reading habits. Promoting a reading culture, improving access to books, integrating technology, expanding fiction collections, creating engaging content and tailoring outreach strategies are key steps to enhancing the reading habits of the Gen Z students in Bangladesh.Social implicationsThese findings provide valuable guidance for policymakers and educators seeking to foster effective reading habits among students by aligning strategies with their preferences and needs.Originality/valueThis study offers original insights into the reading habits of Gen Z students at Dhaka University, focus on enhancing library collections, particularly in fiction literature, addresses challenges such as space constraints and reflects innovative approaches to fostering improved reading habits among students.

Manajemen Perpustakaan Sekolah/Madrasah: Strategi, Tantangan, dan Implementasi Teknologi

Library management is a crucial aspect to ensure efficient and effective access to information resources for users. It involves planning, organizing, directing, and controlling the library's information resources, including collections, staff, budget, and information technology. The main objective of library management is to support and enhance learning, research, and knowledge development by providing high-quality and relevant information services. The principles of library management include planning, organizing, leadership, control, collection development, user services, and technology utilization. Libraries play a significant role in supporting the learning process in schools and madrasas by providing various learning resources, facilitating independent learning, enhancing information literacy, supporting student research and projects, promoting a reading culture, collaborating with teachers, providing access to digital resources, and offering reference and consultation services. Collection development is a critical aspect of library management, involving the systematic selection and acquisition of library materials based on user needs, curriculum relevance, and the latest developments in various fields of knowledge. The maintenance and preservation of library collections are also essential to ensure their longevity and accessibility. Effective library management strategies, including the development, maintenance, and preservation of collections, are vital to providing diverse and high-quality resources that support learning, research, and knowledge development in educational environments.

Factors influencing the completion of extensive reading tasks: A case study of Indonesian students in tertiary EFL class

Extensive Reading (ER) has received considerable attention in foreign language teaching and learning in Indonesia. However, research on student engagement and completion rates of ER assignments in higher education is limited. This qualitative case study investigates the factors that influence the completion of ER assignments among students in a counselling programme at a state university in Kalimantan. Using semi-structured interviews, the study explores students' perspectives and experiences to gain a comprehensive understanding of the challenges they face in completing extensive reading assignments. The findings reveal a complex interplay of factors that impede task completion, including lack of intrinsic motivation and interest in reading, vocabulary difficulties, and the learning environment. These findings highlight the critical role of English language teachers in creating a motivating and supportive learning environment, providing targeted vocabulary instruction and fostering a reading culture to maximise the benefits of ER for language acquisition and academic success in higher education.

School librarian experience as an agent in fostering a reading culture

School librarian experience as an agent in fostering a reading culture

Homework - Necessity or Myth?

Throughout generations a question has been posed: do students benefit from writing homework and does homework fulfill its purpose? The debate about the usefulness of homework causes many doubts in the educational public. Learning outcomes and the importance of homework are different today than twenty or more years ago. Contemporary students are not very interested in this type of activity, showing a high degree of non-independence in performing tasks outside the school environment. The author discusses the expediency of writing homework and its impact on students' learning achievements in class. Accordingly, the author examines the positive and negative sides of this extracurricular activity. This article was created based on the analysis of previous research and knowledge about this subject. Some Croatian and Slovenian didacticists believe that homework should not be abolished, but it should be functional, comprising of various exercises aimed at encouraging students to be active. Tasks are justified if they expand the possibility of learning and serve to develop students' abilities and skills. The author states that homework is necessary in the mother tongue teaching, especially at the initial level of primary school education. The teacher must control the quality and quantity of the homework, taking into account the time the student needs to complete it and the type of goals he wants to achieve in relation to the linguistic and literary material. The article offers the examples of homework in the fields of mother tongue, literature, written expression, reading and media culture. Modern technology offers numerous possibilities for creating creative homework.

A Pathway to “Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN)” through Library-Driven Initiatives

The foundational years of education play a critical role in building basic literacy and numeracy skills, known as Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN). This paper delves into the strategic use of libraries within schools to support FLN, presenting libraries as essential educational resources that extend beyond traditional classroom instruction and explores the role of school libraries as strategic educational tools in supporting FLN through accessible, sustainable, community-engaged initiatives. Drawing on successful district-level projects in India, the research investigates the potential of library-driven initiatives to enhance FLN through curricular integration, community involvement, and sustainable resource allocation. With an emphasis on overcoming implementation challenges, this paper presents a comprehensive model for implementing library-driven initiatives proposed, providing a roadmap for enhancing FLN and promoting a culture of reading and learning among students.

Pengembangan Budaya Baca dalam Dunia Pendidikan di MTs Ma’arif Al Ishlah Bungkal Ponorogo

Reading is the most important aspect in the education world. The reading culture planting among students has an important role for the information society. The purpose of this paper is to describes reading culture and reading culture development toward education. This paper uses descriptive qualitative research. The techniques used is criterion- based sampling technique. The method of data collection is scrutinized method. The results of this study is there are lower interest in reading as an indicator of the lack of habitual reading in Indonesian society. The efforts made by schools to develop a reading culture in education are 1) Propaganda Reading, 2) Sanctions Reading, 3) Changes in Behaviour, 4) Modelling, 5) Provision of Special Time for Reading Routine, 6) Parental Involvement Student, 7) Management and Development Library, 8) Environmental Restructuring Schools and classes and 9) Establishment of Reading Club.

Challenges of Nigerian Book Publishing Industry in Post-Covid-19 Economy and Survival Strategies

Book publishing, like other sectors of the global economy, has experienced unprecedented challenges in the post-COVID-19 era, which include disrupted supply chains, reduced purchasing power on the part of students and teachers, and increased competition from digital media. The pandemic has also occasioned a change in business model and marketing strategy leading to transition from physical to virtual platforms. In addition, the book publishing industry has equally experienced paper shortages, printing delays, and heightened costs of production thus, encroaching on the publishers’ profit margin. The study, anchored on Free market theory and instinctive theory of motivation, attempted to put book publishing in perspective using qualitative research that relies on secondary data. The study also looked at the effect of Covid-19 on the global economy in general and the book publishing industry in particular. The study discovered the crucial role the advent of digitalization played in the interface of post-COVID-19 economy and book publishing sub-sector. Besides, it revealed the manifold challenges engendered by COVID-19 in the book publishing industry globally and specifically in Nigeria, which include lack of capital, inability to provide adequate numbers of high-quality books, book piracy, proliferation of unqualified author-publishers and poor reading culture, to the extent the sub-sector is struggling to survive. To endure this inclement economic era, the study suggested the following strategies: publishers need to adopt innovative strategies by investing in digital infrastructure so as to be able to publish printed and e-books as well as opening physical and online sales outlets to boost the revenue base, and different publishers can form a consortium to negotiate and minimize the cost of buying raw materials. Additionally, two or more publishing outfits can come together under merger and acquisition arrangements to bolster their capital base and stay competitive. In conclusion, the study made some recommendations that can help to support this industry to stay afloat in this trying time.

Book influencers in the library?

The digital revolution has transformed reading promotion in a world where technology competes with traditional entertainment, posing challenges for libraries, especially in engaging audiences. Adapting actively is crucial to making reading appealing. The rise of book influencers and reading promoters on social media is pivotal for reading education, offering libraries opportunities to diversify programs. Using the "walkthrough" method on four platforms, our research identified 60 Hungarian book influencers and reading promoters. Structured interviews with 23 influencers aimed to unveil their activities, motivations, and the aspirations and reading experiences behind their content. The study contributes to literary and cultural mediation, exploring the intersection between libraries and literacy promoters. It addresses how literacy promoters can enhance reading promotion in the community, emphasizing their role in generating interest in books and literature. Findings suggest that social media and influencers complement libraries' literacy strategies, benefiting both libraries and readers. Collaborating with influencers can foster a reading culture aligned with the digital era's demands. Encouraging influencers to collaborate could also educate their followers, transforming them into library users.

대학생의 책에 대한 관심 변화 연구

This study analyzed the changes in university student' interest in text and the factors that influenced their interest. As a result, the changes in university student' interest in texts could be divided into six types. The attitude toward text formed elementary school influenced the university period. In addition, social reading culture, digital media, and literacy environments were important factors that changed interest in books. The results of this study confirmed that university student' interest in text changed over time, and suggested the research to maintain interest in text.

Graphic Novels in the School Library: Bridging the Gap Between Reluctant Readers and Literature

This article examines the role of graphic novels in school libraries as an effective tool to engage reluctant readers and foster a love for literature. Reluctant readers, who often struggle with or avoid traditional texts, are drawn to the combination of visual and textual elements that graphic novels offer. These accessible narratives appeal to their interests, making graphic novels a valuable resource in promoting literacy and developing reading habits, particularly in middle and high school students. The study underscores the significance of graphic novels in enhancing reading motivation, comprehension, and critical thinking skills. By bridging the gap between visual storytelling and traditional literature, graphic novels serve as a gateway to more complex works, encouraging readers to explore a wider range of texts. School librarians play a crucial role in curating and promoting these resources, ensuring that graphic novels are effectively integrated into reading programs. Recommendations include incorporating graphic novels into school library collections and reading curricula, addressing any biases against their use, and advocating for the inclusion of diverse titles to support a broad spectrum of reader interests. This approach can create a more dynamic and inclusive reading culture, empowering reluctant readers to engage more confidently with literature.

The Benefits of Reading: A Reflection on Nyerere’s Contributions to Education and Reading Culture

This paper addresses the reading culture during the tenure of Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere, the first President of the United Republic of Tanzania (URT) from 1961 to 1985. The importance of fostering a reading culture and its consequences for personal and social development is well documented. Various stakeholders have consistently emphasized the need for society to embrace a reading culture for both individual and national betterment. This study was designed to determine the potential academic and lifelong benefits of cultivating a reading culture in society. It was constructed using synthesized information extracted from past and present sources, integrating and analysing that data to generate findings. The study employed a desk research approach, screening secondary data and documents collected from various published sources. Primary data played a secondary role in this research. The objectives of the study were: (1) to determine how reading culture functions as an interlocking system of habits and logistics, (2) to assess the social construction of reading communities, (3) to explore the ideological constructions of reading, and (4) to evaluate the role of reading in healing, serving as an important reference for improving readership culture in academic settings. Findings from the study confirmed the importance and pleasure of reading, as Mwalimu Nyerere once stated: “It is a fact that we must recognize; that in dealing with the modern world, children in Europe have two big advantages over our own children. One is familiarity with mechanical things; the other, and perhaps even more important, is familiarity with books.” - Mwalimu Nyerere, Arusha, 29th November 1965. Documented research, along with individual observations, highlights that many people in Tanzania lack the habit of reading books. The noticeable decline in reading culture is alarming and threatens the development of a well-educated and learning-oriented society, including the quality of the nation's workforce. This research concluded that while the problem of poor reading culture is more pronounced in higher learning institutions and has effects on the job sector, it is attributed to several factors presented in this study. The study recommended that steps to promote reading culture are crucial to preventing the collapse of the nation's workforce. It also suggested that promoting reading in schools and universities is essential, and enhancing the reading culture should be integrated into the curriculum.

Peningkatan Kemampuan Literasi, Kreativitas, dan Pengetahuan Siswa SMP Muhammadiyah Palangkaraya Melalui Lomba Mading

Literacy culture is closely related to formal and informal education. Schools have a very important role in instilling a culture of reading and writing in students. Mading can be one way to increase the cultivation of literacy culture. This activity uses a participatory approach that requires the involvement of junior high school students Muhammadiyah Palangkaraya in holding a wall magazine competition. The results of this research are that students at Palangka Raya Muhammadiyah Middle School are enthusiastic about taking part in the existing media competitions, meaning that students need a lighter to be able to make media, which is expected to be the beginning of students' interest in the world of literacy. The main problem with the lack of running of the Mading at Palangka Raya Muhammadiyah Middle School is caused by the lack of motivation in managing the Mading at Palangka Raya Muhammadiyah Middle School, either from teachers or student organizations such as the IPM.

Students’ reading self-concepts at an institution of higher learning in South Africa

Background: South Africa’s reading problems are evident in tertiary education, particularly among students studying in a foreign language. Therefore, many reading researchers in South Africa have argued that poor reading skills among tertiary students are a direct result of poor reading skills at school. Some research has found that psychological factors such as test anxiety, self-concept, and attitude have a negative and significant impact on student academic performance.Objectives: Therefore, the current study focuses on self-concept as it specifically explores university students’ self-perceptions as readers.Method: The study followed a qualitative research approach, and a case study design was deemed relevant for the study. A targeted sample of 65 respondents was selected to answer the open-ended questionnaire. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the collected data.Results: The findings showed that university students defined themselves as readers in different ways and their reading self-concepts were based on their reading behaviour. The students specifically described themselves as readers who enjoy reading, analytic readers, or reluctant readers with poor and slow reading abilities displaying inconsistent reading habits; they admitted that they only read for academic purposes including tests and exams.Conclusion: Students’ reading self-concept has implications for reading instruction, student support, choice of reading material, reading motivation, and syllabus design.Contribution: The findings of the study provide data that could create English lecturers’ awareness of their students’ reading self-concepts so that they could change their students’ reading culture.

‘Christian notes sound sweetest suffering’: birds, books and textual circulation in Sir John Gibson’s commonplace book (BL Add 37719)

ABSTRACT A growing body of scholarship has worked to recover the vocal dimensions of early modern reading and the effects of aural reading cultures on literary composition. Where these studies have focused on the relationship between the human voice and early modern texts, this article examines how the seventeenth-century royalist prisoner Sir John Gibson deploys early modern ideas about birds and birdsong as he seeks consolation through the material and textual processes of literary composition, manuscript compilation, and epistolary exchange. These efforts are evident in his physical and imaginative construction of his miscellany (BL Add 37719) as possessing bird-like capacities for movement and communication. While Gibson’s miscellany does draw on familiar seventeenth-century ideas about music and the human voice, I argue that his invocations of birds and birdsong produce intriguing and powerful claims for the ways written texts can extend the capabilities of the human voice and body.

Influence of Examination Malpractice on Educational Management Undergraduate Students’ Reading Culture in Rivers State Owned Universities in Rivers State

The research studies investigated influence of examination malpractice on Educational Management undergraduate students’ reading culture in Rivers State owned University in Rivers State. Two research questions and two null hypotheses guided the study. The research adopted descriptive survey research design. The population of the study comprised 398 Department of Educational Management students. The sample size of the study was 398. The sample size was taken as census. The instrument for data collection was structured questionnaires titled, Influence of Examination Malpractice on Students Reading Culture Questionnaire. The instrument used for data collection was face and content validated by an expert from Educational Management and two other experts from the Department of Measurement and Evaluation of the Faculty of Education in Rivers State University. The average reliability coefficient of the instruments was 0.81 which indicates a reasonable reliability coefficient. 398 copies of the instrument were administered directly to the respondents by the researchers and their two trained assistants and only 394 were retrieved amounting to 0.99 percent return of the administered instrument. The research questions posed were answered using mean and standard deviation while z-test was used to test the formulated hypotheses. Findings of the study revealed that, during and post examination malpractice to a high extent influence students’ reading culture in senior secondary schools in Rivers State. The researcher made the following recommendations that, there should be effective mechanisms put in place to curb and sanction students who engage in pre and during examination malpractices and concerted efforts should be made at improving the level of discipline meted out on teachers who award unmerited marks to students and the recipients of underserving marks.

Do Preschool Children Access Quality Books? Reading Culture of Parents and Teachers and Book Selection for Children

This correlational study aimed to evaluate the reading cultures of preschool teachers and parents of 3–6-year-old children, and their book selection criteria for preschool children. For this purpose, data were collected from 242 preschool teachers and 247 parents who voluntarily participated in the study. Participants were asked to evaluate their own reading culture and book selection criteria for their preschool children through measurement tools. They were then asked to send them to other parents and teachers they knew through snowball sampling. As a result of the analyses, it was found that there was a positive correlation between both parents' and preschool teachers' reading for individual development, basic reading skills, book choices for themselves and reading culture total scores and physical characteristics, language and character, content and total children's book selection criteria scores. In the light of the findings, suggestions were made to parents and teachers about creating a reading culture and selecting quality books.

Introduction: Touching Troy

Abstract This introduction aims to briefly sketch the theoretical framework for the articles assembled in this special issue on touch within the transmission of the Troy story in western Europe. Starting with the analysis of an important scene involving reading and manuscript culture in Geoffrey Chaucer’s Troilus and Criseyde, this introduction provides a context for medieval instances of touching within contemporary thinking about materiality and relationality and within the transmission of the Troy story in late medieval and early modern Europe.

BODY LANGUAGE VOCABULARY IN ALBANIAN AS A PROOF OF AN ABUNDANT AND ANCIENT LANGUAGE!

The richness of language vocabulary is directly related to the personal culture of reading and educational background of the person belonging to a specific ethnic community, altogether with the tradition, customs and folklore, as factors of its historic cultural development. The historical development of an ethnicity plays a decisive role in the richness of words and the abundance of vocabulary for specific types and fields of cultures, such as the musical culture, the culture of fine arts, legal and institutional culture, culture of housing buildings, culture of healthy living, etc. The national conscience is related to the common language speaking and the cultivation of tradition, folklore and clothing by the people living in a common geographic territory. Their fights for survival and freedom, as well as the wars for defense of the territory has produced an abundant vocabulary up to details and stylistic varieties and a detailed description of the fighting tools and processes, such as struggle, fight, wars, call for freedom, on the other hand, but also is a lack of words and poorness of vocabulary related to the technical description of the manufactured products and merchandises coming from abroad. Depending on the cultural development of the institutions, the law enforcement and written rules regulating the rights and the responsibility for obeying the legal restrictions and prohibitions has produced a better legal and institutional culture in one country, rather than in an old fashioned organization of social life in countries of a specific stage of national development, where the legal institutions were perceived as strange and hostile originating by an occupying country or nation. These institutions were only accepted as temporary and people obeyed them only by coercion, unwillingly and due to the threat of use of force, in case of lack of obedience. The culture of reading newspapers and watching TV has influenced the richness of vocabulary by meeting new words of the literary, official and the international language, except for the vocabulary of the dialects in their native language.

A Survey Of Reading Habits Of Pre-Service English Teachers In The School Of Teacher Training And Education

This study explores the reading habits of pre-service English teachers enrolled in a School of Teacher Training and Education. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, the research aims to identify the frequency, preferences, and motivations behind the reading activities of these future educators. Data was collected through questionnaires distributed to 54 respondents and semi-structured interviews, providing both quantitative and qualitative insights. The findings indicate The questionnaires were distributed to 54 pre-service English teachers. The statistical analysis of the data indicates that even if the majority of students have read English since they were young, they may not necessarily have good reading habits in English, specifically. It appears that just a tiny portion of them have consistent reading habits in English based on their eagerness to regularly spend time reading various types of English texts. The study also shows that most of students prefer reading fiction texts instead of academic texts which reveals the imbalanced approach toward their reading habits. Factors influencing these habits include academic demands, personal interests, and the increasing accessibility of digital content. The study underscores the importance of fostering robust reading habits among pre-service teachers to enhance their professional development and effectiveness in the classroom. The implications of these findings suggest the need for targeted interventions and support mechanisms within teacher training programs to promote a balanced and enriching reading culture.