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The findings are from a 2021 survey

Do we create school survey?
Do we create a suburb survey?
Can we make a survey and place it on the school's Facebook or Class Dojo?

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What are the statistics for WHERE people read? (Web article from 2016)

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What are the statistics for WHERE people read? (Web article from 2016)

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Are statistics the same/different/worse/better in/around:

What are the statistics for Dianella?
What are the statistics for Perth?
What are the statistics for W.A.?
What are the statistics for Australia?
What are the statistics for the World?

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By uczcsek, on 3 February 2016

Publishing, like any other commercial industry, can only survive if it creates something the consumer values and is willing to pay for. However, the main product the publishing industry creates - books - contributes to the 'Knowledge Economy'[1] as well as the financial economy. Books are bought and sold only if the consumers value the act of reading, which requires the ability to be able to read, and the desire to do so.

If a country's publishing industry wants to succeed,it needs to know whether reading is valued in its country. But how do you judge how much a country values reading? Is it by the number of books published? By how much the average person reads? By literacy rate or by the establishment of reading initiatives?

Let's take the UK for example, and compare it against every one of those proposed measures of value and see how it stacks up against other countries.[2]

Books published: In 2013, the UK published 184,440 titles, a decrease from the previous year where 190,800 titles were published. In fact, from 2001 to 2012, the number of titles published in the UK increased annually up until 2013.[3] In 2013, the UK ranked third globally in book production behind only China (444,000 titles) and the US (304,912 titles).[4]

Average reading time: This infographic based on the findings of NOP's World Culture Score Index made the rounds on the internet a few years ago (even though the findings were actually from 2005), and shows an average of hours reading per week per person on a global scale.

Based on these findings, the UK spends 5.3 hours per week reading books for pleasure, ranking 25th out of the 30 countries surveyed. This is below the global average calculated to be 6.5 hours. The number one spot went to India, with a mean time of 10.7 hours of weekly reading. The same study also looked at time spent doing other activities, and found that the UK on a weekly basis spends 18 hours watching TV, 10.5 listening to the radio, and 8.8 on the internet (this is from 2005, so I bet that number has changed dramatically).[5]

A more recent study by YouGov, and reported by The Guardian, found that "11% of men and 5% of women surveyed [said] they never read for pleasure. A quarter of the UK's adult population - more than 12 million people - had picked up a book to read for enjoyment less than twice in the past six months."[6]

Literacy rate: According to UNESCO's Adult and Youth Literacy survey, "Regional averages of the adult literacy rate can be calculated for all Education for All (EFA) regions, except North America and Western Europe due to the limited number of countries in the region that report literacy rates. In 2011, the global adult literacy rate for the population aged 15 years and older was 84%. Two regions, Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia, were at or near universal literacy, with adult literacy rates of 99% and 100%, respectively. North America and Western Europe is also assumed to be near universal adult literacy. In East Asia and the Pacific (adult literacy rate of 95%) and Latin America and the Caribbean (92%) at least nine out of ten adults were able to read and write. However, the average for Latin America and the Caribbean conceals lower literacy rates in the Caribbean, where the adult literacy rate was only 69% in 2011. Adult literacy rates were also below the global average in South and West Asia (63%) and sub-Saharan Africa (59%), where more than one-third of adults could not read and write."[7]

UNESCO assumed Western Europe was near universal adult literacy, but The National Literacy Trust reports that 'Around 16 per cent, or 5.2 million adults in England, can be described as "functionally illiterate".'[8]

Reading initiatives: In November 2015, the BBC announced their year-long campaign called Get Reading aimed "to "ignite a spark" in the nation and encourage people to read" by providing programming and opportunities for people to talk about their favorite books and to discover their next favorite title.[9] It is a similar idea to their 2011 campaign Year of Books, which helped launch the first World Book Night event.[10]

Conclusions: How much a country or culture values the act of reading cannot be based on one sole statistic. Just looking at data for the UK, one might presume that because the UK is the third-largest producer of books in the world, the people must be reading constantly. But when compared with findings that 16% never read for pleasure, the story changes. Publishers, then, need to be aware of and consider all of these factors in addition to current reading trends when deciding who and what to publish.

[1] International Publisher's Association Annual Report 2014 http://www.internationalpublishers.org/images/reports/2014/IPA-annual-report-2014.pdf

[2] Many industry reports for 2015 are still being generated, so much of this data comes from 2013-2014

[3] According to Nielsen BookScan, which does not account for self-published e-books without ISBNs. Data complied by The Booksellers Association. http://www.booksellers.org.uk/BookSellers/media/SiteMediaLibrary/IndustryNews/UK-Titles-Published-2001-2013.pdf

[4] International Publisher's Association Annual Report 2014 http://www.internationalpublishers.org/images/reports/2014/IPA-annual-report-2014.pdf

[5] NOP World Culture Score http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nop-world-culture-scoretm-index-examines-global-media-habits-uncovers-whos-tuning-in-logging-on-and-hitting-the-books-54693752.html

[6] http://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/feb/14/4-million-uk-adults-never-read-books

[7] UNESCO Adult and Youth Literacy: National, regional and global trends, 1985-2015 http://www.uis.unesco.org/Education/Documents/literacy-statistics-trends-1985-2015.pdf

[8] http://www.literacytrust.org.uk/adult_literacy/illiterate_adults_in_england

[9] http://www.thebookseller.com/news/bbc-launches-year-long-campaign-get-nation-reading-316569

[10] http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2011/01_january/25/books.shtml

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The Publisher's Atlas: How do we map the value of reading?

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By uczcsek, on 3 February 2016 Publishing, like any other commercial industry, can only survive if it creates something the consumer values and is willing to pay for. However, the main product the publishing industry creates - books - contributes to the 'Knowledge Economy'[1] as well as the financial economy.

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Inquiry Provocation: What does this diagram tell us about children and reading?

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Inquiry Provocation: What does this diagram tell us about children and reading?

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Doesn't everyone read the same amount?

Who is Child C reading only reading 1 minute per day?
Why is Child C only reading 1 minute per day?
How can all children want to read more?

What happens if children don't read books?
How does this affect literacy?

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How can we encourage everyone to read everyday for longer?

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Who created this?
Why was it created?
How does it work?
Where are they located?
Who can use these?
Who would use these?
Where is one close to us?
Can we create a little library?
Do we need permission?
Who should be involved?

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What happens when you read a book?
What happens when you read a story?

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Who are reading experts?
Older brother/sister
Parents
Teachers
Principals
Librarians
Who else is there?

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Why is this your favourite book?

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Who are some experts on Reading and Books?

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Who are some experts on Reading and Books?

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This is Craig Silvey, author of Runt
Craig Silvey lives in Fremantle, W.A.

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Craig Silvey headshot pic credit Daniel James_Tricia McKenzie

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Where can children get books from?
Do children have to buy books?

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The City of Stirling has six libraries and a comprehensive digital collection where you can access a world of information and entertainment. Our facilities and collections are designed to enrich our community by encouraging learning and enhancing creativity.
Our online Digital Library will be available at all times, providing a range of eBooks, eAudiobooks, eMagazines, plus movies and TV shows to explore and discover.

Libraries closed - Monday 6 March 2023

City of Stirling Libraries will be closed on Monday 6 March 2023 for Labour Day.

Don't forget we also have after hours return chutes at Stirling Libraries - Osborne and Scarborough, or alternatively you can reserve or renew your books online.

Stirling Libraries - Mirrabooka closed - Saturday 4 March 2023

Please be advised that Stirling Libraries - Mirrabooka will be closed on Saturday 4 March 2023, due to building maintenance.

The library will be open for business as usual on Tuesday 7 March 2023 after the Labour Day public holiday.

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The City of Stirling has six libraries and a comprehensive digital collection where you can access a world of information and entertainment. Our facilities and collections are designed to enrich our community by encouraging learning and enhancing creativity.

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Incentives: MS Readathon - What is the purpose of this readathon?

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Incentives: MS Readathon - What is the purpose of this readathon?

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Why do children complete this readathon?
What do the children do?

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Embark on an epic adventure this August! The MS Readathon inspires kids to read as much as they can, all for an incredible cause. The rules are simple. Read whatever you like, as much as you can, in August. This year's MS Readathon will be a magical quest, and the adventure kicks off on August...

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Incentives: The Premier's Reading Challenge

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Incentives: The Premier's Reading Challenge

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Why did Mark Mcgowan begin this challenge in 2022?

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You can read books from any year level on the booklist. We understand everyone's reading abilities are different and we encourage you to give it a go. You can read a graphic novel, listen to an audiobook or take part in group reading sessions.

If you're a staff member, you may need to help students who would benefit from reading books from another year level. Keep in mind that some books from older year levels may not be appropriate for your younger students.

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The challenge - Premier's Reading Challenge - Department of Education

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You can read books from any year level on the booklist. We understand everyone's reading abilities are different and we encourage you to give it a go. You can read a graphic novel, listen to an audiobook or take part in group reading sessions.

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What other things are there for children to do instead of reading?

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What other things are there for children to do instead of reading?

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Where are books available for all children?

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Where are books available for all children?