Remember that feeling of walking into the library and seeing the words “book fair” on the shelves? Seeing all the books that you had no idea that existed?
It added anticipation and excitement to reading.
Book fairs should be offered to high school students because they bring more attention to books and make students want to read, which is something Gen Z could use.
Although many book fair organizations—like Scholastic—don’t hold fairs for high school students, high school administrators should look for alternatives, especially alternatives targeting the Gen Z audience.
Generation Z reads an average of eight books a year, the fewest of all the generations according to surveys at Hill Strategies, a Canadian research firm that specializes in arts and culture.
Book fairs can be a powerful way to sell reading to teens, and teens clearly need to be sold on reading
According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, 31% of 13-year-olds reported that they never or hardly ever read for fun or their own time in 2023, an increase from 29% in 2020 and 8% in 1984.
Less than 20% of U.S. teens report reading a book, magazine or newspaper daily for pleasure, while more than 80% say they use social media every day, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.
So, instead of scrolling through social media, why not scroll through a book?
According to Chief Content Officer, Sue Johnson of Wattpad—an original fictional story website—Gen Z makes up 80% of Wattpad’s audience of 90 million people worldwide.
For many members of Gen Z, their phone is their way to access reading on Wattpad.
“The phone is an extension of who they are. They don’t need to pick up a traditional paper book to read,” Johnson said in an interview for Forbes.com.
High school administrators could start holding book fairs that include eBooks and audiobooks to increase excitement for reading.
This idea could flourish in the online world that high school students are oh so familiar with.
Schools could try to partner up with local libraries—like the Boone County Public Library—to get audiobooks or eBooks for high school students.
An online book fair with the BCPL could be more exciting to high school students, rather than just getting library cards for whenever you have time to go.
This could be the way to sell reading for pleasure.
High schoolers have adapted to the online everything, and book fairs can promote books and reading by adapting too.
