Do you know anyone who’s ever checked a book out of the library? The library is practically unused at JR and, if you somehow manage to stumble into it, chances are your only company will be our librarians. So why isn’t anyone in the library?
To start, the majority of high schoolers just don’t read many books. Except for a comment section, people just can’t be bothered to read nowadays. Think about it, when was the last time you picked up a new book and read it cover to cover? Even when a book is assigned in English, SparkNotes is just so much more appealing than 20 minutes of reading some janky PDF.
Another thing that definitely hurts the library’s user numbers is that we have an enormous library just a block away from the pool entrance. We’ve been in the Tenleytown Library way more than our own because it has way more space, a lot more books, and the study rooms are super nice to work in for half an hour before a librarian kicks you out. It’s hard for our library to compete when there’s a better funded option right next door.
An additional component contributing to the unpopularity of the library is the rise of online libraries. Downloading books onto a computer or Kindle is far more convenient than checking out a damaged and disheveled hard copy from the school library. Online libraries have a large selection of books that a traditional library simply can’t offer.
While there might be other factors that contribute to the lack of library visits, the underlying issue is the negative culture surrounding reading and the shallow attention spans of teenagers. Short-form content such as TikTok and Instagram are frying the dopamine receptors and the attention spans of our country’s youth. Simply put, students cannot be asked to sit down and read for extended periods of time.
The school library will remain virtually unused, until the mindset surrounding reading changes. Reading can improve vocabulary, writing skills, and above all brain functioning. Very few public schools in the District are lucky enough to have this sort of library, with hundreds of books from plenty of different authors and genres. All it takes is a few students to set a pattern and inspire others to use this substantial resource. So next time you walk by the library, consider stopping in and find a book that interests you.
