Literature in lockdown: reading habits return during online school

PHOTO: Students purchase books from the Avid Reader and Logos Books, or borrow books from public libraries.

By Priscilla Lee,

BlueDevilHUB.com Editor–

Quarantine has led people of all ages to consume more media; one method that has been making a comeback is escaping into a book.

Although access to school and community libraries has been limited since the beginning of lockdown, local bookstores have received overwhelming community support and sales have been going steady.

The Avid Reader bookstore in downtown Davis, which transferred ownership right before lockdown began, noted that although there has been less in-person traffic in the store, book sales have continued at the average rate. 

Avid Reader’s neighbor, Logos Books, which sells used books and donates all proceeds after expenses to the Davis Public Library, was forced to shut down last March and started up again in June. Due to volunteer staff being reluctant to meet the public, the business implemented a schedule of being open five days a week instead of their usual every day. 

“Our book sales per hour are much higher and [we’ve] seen a younger demographic than before,” said Phil Coleman, the General Manager of Logos Books. “We attribute the age demographic to more university students staying home and distance learning.”

Logos Books has also increased their online presence through setting up accounts on eBay and Biblio.com, while posting more on social media.

Upping their social media presence as well as decorating the building and advertising during curbside pickup, the Yolo County Library continues to offer its services to the public since last June. Patrons can request materials through the online catalog and pick them up at the library when they are available. 

The library purchased more ebooks and audiobooks to increase accessibility to community members not comfortable with leaving their homes, and extended due dates from three to six weeks. “We know it’s not always easy to get to the library during this unprecedented time, and the last thing we want to do is discourage people from checking out books because they are concerned about late fees,” said Margaret Pelrine, the Reference and Readers’ Advisory Librarian.

Davis High junior Youyou Xu noticed there has been an increase in book recommendations on her personal social media accounts. Since the beginning of quarantine Xu has been reading hardcover classics available at home and downloading ebooks from online libraries. She sets aside at least 20 minutes a day to sit in the backyard with her reading material in her lap.

“Words spark some sort of [intellectual joy] within me and then that’s like why I prefer reading them instead of hearing them because it’s up to your own interpretation,” Xu said regarding audiobooks.

Joining books groups is one way people are encouraging themselves to read more.

Ariel Loring, a member of the Reading for Pleasure book group at UC Davis that meets once a quarter, stated that due to more time on their hands, some members of the group have increased their reading for leisure during quarantine. “They also are doing more reading because of personal goals, pleasure that comes from reading, and new reading avenues like audiobooks,” Loring said.

Avid Reader staff expressed that some of the important benefits of reading include entertainment, education and growth in empathy: “We think everyone should try to read books by and about people they are different from. This can help you understand the experiences of others more deeply and also find the ways you have things in common with those who have very different lives than your own.”