Is anyone reading?

For the last couple of years I’ve been hearing about the downfall of the printed word. From Al Gore to Bill Gates the word is that we are living in unreaderly times. Apparently no one is reading anymore…at least not fiction. According to the “National Endowment for the arts” only half of North Americans are picking up books and the numbers are declining year after year at an alarming rate.

In his new book “The Assault on reason”, former vice president, Al Gore claims that we’re too wired in to take the time to pick up a book. From the ipod to the internet, laptops, Blackberrys, and television sets that sit in our homes…he claims that this new wave of technology dominates our time and our lives. Is he right? Have we put down our books in favor of a quick and easy buzz?

If that’s the case could someone please tell the oh so popular Danielle Steel, who just recently published her 7th book in 3 years, to stop writing! If no one‘s going to read them what’s the point? While we’re at it… let’s tell Khaled Hosseini that he’s wasted his time and energy writing “A Thousand splendid suns” despite the close to 200 people waiting to read his book here at the library. And let’s not forget the many people who attend the Library’s book clubs and reviews. If half of North America isn’t reading why are there so many excited people filling the seats to talk about books?

While I’ve never been a big TV fan and can count the shows I’m loyal to on one hand, I have always been a reader. It helps that I’m surrounded by books all day long. I have a hard time not checking them out, promising myself to take the ones I will truly read front to back. It doesn’t matter if it’s light reading or serious political thinking. I’ll give every book its due so long as it’s interesting and entertaining but I’m not alone because Côte Saint-Luc is filled with readers just like me.

Yes it’s true we have Wi-fi access through out the library and a revamped AV department with cool leather sofas and slim, sleek screens to watch our brand new DVDs on but books are still flying out of here. Romance, mystery, thriller, and non-fiction…it all goes. There’s something here for everyone and a good number of Côte Saint-Lucers are reading despite the technology wave and all the new gadgets out there. We may be wired in but we haven’t put our books down but if you have, then you need to come in and let us hook you up. We’ll find something for you to read no matter what your taste or preference is. Come in and find out.