Something Unexpected about Students' Reading Preferences

By Albert Smith

While interviewing Black men regarding their reading habits and digital culture, I was surprised to find out just how many students preferred engaging with literature physically instead of digitally.

With the rise of digital reading, especially in the forms of e-books and podcasts, I had assumed that most students would have expressed interest in newer and more accessible formats. I had to rethink these assumptions following numerous interviews where students noted that they preferred physical books as they were less distracting.

The desire to engage with physical books despite there being accessible options online speaks to a community of traditional readers at SIUE that value tangibleness over convenience. While most assignments and reading at SIUE are assigned digitally, there are benefits of reverting to classic learning methods that students identify with and actively seek.

In an everchanging world of digital advancement, students of SIUE are expressing interest in relationships with physical media.

Related: 

• Notes on Black Readers & Digital Culture