Abstract:
Is it true that, in the age of TV, reading a book is regarded as a quaint, ineffective pastime? Is it true that the “next generation,” after release from academic labors, instantly abandons the written word for the talking head? I admit that, as a columnist, I’ve a bias against believing no one cares to read any more. Fortunately there’s evidence showing that people around me not only read but read a lot. The Fairfax County Public Library, with 19 branches and an annual budget of $25 million, reports that 77% of the county population holds its library cards. In 1998 close to 5 million visits were made to library branches in the county.
