Unveiling the Reading Patterns of Librarians: Work vs Personal Reading - Forgotten Bookmarks Project

In the ever-evolving world of librarianship, where the quest for knowledge and the love for reading are essential, understanding the reading patterns and habits of librarians sheds light on their intricate relationship with books. Today, we delve into the intriguing realm of reading habits among librarians, focusing on the distinctions and similarities between their work-related reading activities and personal reading pursuits.

Work Vs Personal Reading Bookmark Usuage

When answering questions six through seventeen, librarians noted their reading patterns between work and leisure time based on their observations of patrons' and students' reading habits and bookmark usage. When asked how many bookmarks they use for both business and personal reading in question eleven, the results were as follows: two responded zero, twenty-six said one, nine said two, two said three, three said four, and four stated they use five bookmarks. Two people stated they use six to eight bookmarks per day, while two others indicated they use ten to twelve bookmarks per day. Participants who answered they do not use bookmarks also claimed they read e-books and do not use a physical bookmark to mark their spot.

The number of bookmarks used did not fluctuate or exhibit as much of a pattern as their choice for book formats, types, and genres when reading for work or pleasure. There was a small difference between librarians' reading tendencies and their professional reading patterns. In question six, thirteen participants said no to having a personal reading pattern, while twenty-two said no to having a work reading pattern, indicating a nine-person difference between the two questions. Twenty-eight participants indicated they strive to keep regular bookmarks on hand but sometimes use whatever is convenient or close for personal reading, whereas only four said the same for business reading. In terms of personal reading habits, three people claimed they memorize the page or chapter number, and one said they use bookmarks that match the genre of the book. Five respondents stated that they use personal or noteworthy artifacts as bookmarks for personal reading, such as Japan travel tickets, Magic the Gathering cards, special event ticket stubs, and library bookmarks. In response to question six, another respondent stated that their reading habits have altered from the past. They stated that as they grew older, they began to use personal artifacts such as notes from their husband and crafts made by their grandchildren. They claim to read more spiritual or personal improvement material than they did in their twenties and thirties. In contrast to those who use bookmarks, three people stated in response to question thirteen that they use less or no bookmarks and will take no notes in the books due to reading more e-books or not causing book damage, and one person stated that they skim-read for work but not for personal reading.

Work VS Personal Reading

Questions seven and fourteen revealed the similarities and variances in genres read by librarians for personal and work purposes.

The following genre counts had the greatest variation: biography, contemporary, crime, fantasy, fiction, historical fiction, mystery, non-fiction, romance, science fiction, and thriller. The difference in the biography genre is seven, with more people reading the genre for pleasure than for work. Seven reads more contemporary material for pleasure than for work. Nine people liked reading crime for personal enjoyment rather than a job. Eleven participants indicated that they read fantasy for pleasure rather than for work. Ten people made the difference between reading fiction for pleasure and reading fiction for business. Thirteen people indicated that they read historical fiction for work, while nineteen others indicated that they read it for pleasure. In comparison to seven people reading mysteries for business, thirty-two people read the genre for pleasure. When it comes to reading nonfiction, there was a nine-person gap between personal and job reading. The romance genre was read by ten times more people for pleasure than for business. In comparison to job reading, fifteen more librarians read science fiction for pleasure. For the thriller category, eleven more librarians read it for pleasure than for a job.

From genres to kinds in questions seven and fourteen to formats in questions nine and sixteen related librarians' personal reading and job reading.

When it comes to reading novels for pleasure versus reading them for work, there was a twenty-one-person difference. Nonfiction was read by fifteen more people for work reasons than for personal purposes. Reading plays and scripts for personal enjoyment was marked by one participant, but reading the forms for work was marked by none. The responses from questions eight and fifteen regarding preferred book types for person reading and job reading are as follows. The bulk were physical books, with forty-two for personal reading and forty-one for job reading. E-books came in second, with thirteen for personal reading and eighteen for work reading. Audiobook is the third most popular format, with fifteen personal readings and seven works. For librarians, mixed media was the least popular format, with three stating they read it for personal reasons and only one for work. One person stated that they do not read any of the formats indicated for work. Given their time constraints at work, the fact that physical books are the ones they classify, sort, and display on the shelves, and the type that patrons gravitate towards, it is not unexpected that physical books are the main format for both personal and work reading. E-books coming in second place is not surprising; however, as e-books have grown in popularity, certain librarians specialize in digital books, and programs like Overdrive and now Libby give a broad selection of e-books to librarians and their clients. People listen to audiobooks to get reading time in while doing other activities like working or housework. For example, a librarian could listen to an audiobook while categorizing or sorting and reordering books on the shelves.

Furthermore, moving from book types to age groups, librarians consume the most for personal and professional reading.

For questions ten and seventeen, participants clicked on the age categories. One for infants or toddlers, six for children's literature, eight for middle grade, twenty-one for young adults, thirteen for new adults, and forty-six for adults are the results of question ten. The following findings were obtained for work reading: seven babies or toddlers, seventeen children, sixteen middle grade, nineteen young adults, eight new adults, and thirty-four adult literatures. Unless they have children, who read in their families or have acquaintances with children, librarians prefer to read more of the pre-k and under-age category for work. Children librarians in schools and public libraries specialize in children's literature, which explains why the children's age category is higher for work reading. They need to read children's literature to ensure that the books are appropriate for young patrons, keep new books, and see what is most interesting to the kids. Middle Grade was more popular for work reading than personal reading for librarians, which could be because middle-grade novels, particularly chapter books, are popular not just with children and middle school students, but also with young adults and adults at times due to their ease of reading. Middle grade is another age category that must be read to ensure that it is current and relevant, and the ones in the library are the ones that encourage young consumers to read. Young adults are a major age group for literature, particularly fiction, and are among the most popular for teenagers, adults, and some pre-teenagers. Young adult and adult literature are the two most popular age groups in public and high school libraries, as well as bookstores. Adult literature is the age group that is read the most for personal and work purposes, which could be because all the participants are adults. Adult books include instructional books on cooking and gardening, and the most popular genres among adult clients, according to librarians, are fiction and mystery. Adults are more likely to visit libraries, thus librarians must ensure that the cataloged adult books are engaging, popular genres for them, and include new books that will tempt them to return to the library. Overall, the data suggest a wider range of age categories read for work than for personal reading.

In Conclusion

The reading patterns of librarians, whether within the confines of their professional duties or in the realms of personal exploration, reflect a profound connection to the written word. Through the Forgotten Bookmarks Project and the daily rituals of personal reading, librarians embody the essence of literary custodians, embracing the past, present, and future of reading with unwavering passion.

As we unravel the intricate tapestry of reading habits among librarians, we discover not only a shared love for books but also a profound appreciation for the transformative power of reading in all its forms.

So, let us continue to turn the pages of our lives, guided by the wisdom found in the written word, as we journey through the realms of imagination and knowledge – together.

Let the books be our compass, and let the stories be our guides.