Gen Z Turns to Physical Books and Libraries

More from the article...

... They have killed skinny jeans and continue to shame millennials for having side partings in their hair. They think using the crying tears emoji to express laughter is embarrassing. But now comes a surprising gen Z plot twist. One habit that those born between 1997 and 2012 are keen to endorse is reading " and it's physical books rather than digital that they are thumbing. ...

This week the 22-year-old model Kaia Gerber launched her own book club, Library Science. Gerber, who this month appears on the cover of British Vogue alongside her supermodel mum, Cindy Crawford, describes it as "a platform for sharing books, featuring new writers, hosting conversations with artists we admire -- and continuing to build a community of people who are as excited about literature as I am".

"Books have always been the great love of my life," she added. "Reading is so sexy."

Gerber isn't alone. Last year in the UK 669m physical books were sold, the highest overall level ever recorded. Research from Nielsen BookData highlights that it is print books that gen Z favour, accounting for 80% of purchases from November 2021 to 2022.

Libraries are also reporting an uptick in gen Z users who favour their quiet over noisy coffee shops. In the UK in-person visits are up 71%. ...

@#2

My guess is that those two I cited in #1 may have seen a trend and jumped on it, instead of vice versa, ii.e., them creating the trend.

Regardless, I'd be looking to see if this trend lasts, or is just a flash in the pan. ...

@#5

Amazon is still selling books?

Interesting, though, that gen Z seems to be going to libraries ...

@#7

The article you cite seems to look mostly at gen Z not partying as much (on weekends?) than anything else. Though, it contains the line...

... In many ways, young people are merely doing what they have been endlessly nagged to do: be sensible, stay out of trouble, concentrate on their homework. ...

which may explain the larger number of library visits and book reading.

As I mentioned in #3, is this all a flash in the pan, or will the trend remain?

@#11 ...They like to hold the actual book ...

I remember when music streaming started to take off, there was a small but significant backlash, a return to vinyl albums.

Why?

Some of it was the different sound of vinyl, but a lot was also the tangible, physical aspect of having an album in your hands.

Lemme see if I can find something...

The Vinyl Revival: Why Analog is Making a Comeback in a Digital Age (August 2023)
www.hipdiggs.com

... But as the late 20th century approached, the digital revolution began to take over, introducing compact discs, followed by MP3s and streaming platforms. The tactile, analog world of vinyl seemed to be fading, overshadowed by the convenience of digital music. Or so it seemed.

1. The Tangible Experience

There's something profoundly personal about sliding a vinyl record out of its sleeve, placing it on the turntable, and gently dropping the needle. It's a ritual, a moment of anticipation. The tactile pleasure of handling vinyl is unmatched.

It's not just about listening; it's about engagement.

And then there's the artwork. In today's world of tiny icons on streaming platforms, the large album covers of vinyl records offer a visual feast. I've spent countless hours poring over album covers, getting lost in the artwork, and diving deep into liner notes, absorbing the lyrics, and reading acknowledgments. It's an experience that digital platforms, despite their convenience, have yet to replicate. ...