How to Encourage Adults to Read

Adult life is busy and even adults who want to read sometimes just don't find the time. Whether you are working with adult learners or you simply want to encourage those in your social circle to pick up a good book, community is an essential component in motivating people to read. For adult learners, it's important to meet people where they are and recommend books that are accessible and relevant in order to build confidence. With the adults in your life, creating a book club or online community can give people the nudge they need to read a little more.

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Motivating Adult Learners

1. Find books relevant to adults' lives. Adult learners expect information they are learning to be useful and applicable to their lives. Assigning reading that isn't just accessible, but is also relevant and enjoyable can make a big difference in motivating adult learners. Choose books that relate directly to adult students' lives or careers to show them how reading can be useful.^[1]
   
   • For example, if you teach business students who have a retail background, pick reads that will teach them practical strategies and skills.
   • Escapism can be another motivator for reading. If a student isn't responding to practical reads and you have some flexibility, try finding out what they would prefer to read. Fantasy, science fiction, and romance novels are all popular genres that can be escapist.
2. Praise all kinds of reading. Adult learners can be hard on themselves and downplay the reading they already do. If an adult learner remarks that they don't have time to read "real" books, but reads the news, comic books, or magazines, praise them for it. If they are making time for any reading in their lives, that is already an accomplishment.^[2]
   
   • Adult learners who read at a low level might appreciate using a stepping stone such as a comic book or graphic novel to build up their confidence.
3. Make time for reading. Make your space a reading-friendly one. Even if you can only designate 5-10 minutes for reading, use that time. That way, if students are having a hard time making time for reading, they will at least be able to count on a few minutes in your space.^[3]
   
   • Reduce distractions during reading time. Make your space quiet, turn off screens, and ask students to focus on reading.
   • Ask students to always bring a book with them so they can spend some time reading if they have extra time.
4. Encourage e-books and audiobooks. Technology can make reading accessible and affordable to more people. Don't get caught up on making students use physical books. Adult learners will choose the medium that works best for them.^[4]
   
   • Tell adult learners about different features they can use, such as highlighting and annotating e-books and slowing down or speeding up audiobooks.
   • Most libraries now offer free e-books and audiobooks for checkout.
5. Show adult learners the resources that are available to them. If you are teaching adult students at a college or university, let them know what specific resources are available, such as tutors or books in multiple formats at the library. If you are teaching a community course or workshop, note what other resources are available in the community that learners may not know about.^[5]
   
   • Your community might have small lending libraries or community shelves outside of public libraries, other workshops or courses taught for free or low cost, or used book sales. Spread the word to adult students.

[Edit]Building Reading Communities

1. Start a book club to encourage members to read specific books. Many adults wish they had more time to read, but need a push to make the time in their lives. Having a book club is a great motivator that can push adults to make a little time to read.^[6]
   
   • Book clubs don't have to be home-based. Work with a local institution, such as a community center, museum, or library to create a book club where people already gather.
2. Suggest books to friends and family. Whenever you read a book, think about some people in your life who might enjoy it, even if you don't like it. Next time you see them, suggest the book. It will give you something to bond over and discuss later.^[7]
   
   • Lend books to friends and family, if you can. Putting a book into someone's hand will encourage them to read it.
3. Create an online reading community through a book forum. If you live far away from friends and family, creating an online reading group is a great way to connect and share recommendations and reviews. Checking in with your online community regularly is a great way to motivate yourself and other people in your virtual circle to read and share thoughts.^[8]
   
   • Goodreads is the most popular online book forum for all kinds of books, but you can also try forums that are specific to one type of genre.
4. Build a little free library. A little free library is a lending library where community members can take a book and leave a book. Find a space in your neighborhood where you can create a lending library.^[9]
   
   • The most convenient location for a lending library is on your own property, but apartment buildings and coffee shops also increasingly have lending libraries.

[Edit]References

1. ↑ https://www.seedsofliteracy.org/5-ways-to-motivate-adult-learners/
2. ↑ https://epale.ec.europa.eu/en/blog/how-do-we-motivate-children-and-adults-become-lifelong-readers?page=0%2C2
3. ↑ https://www.seedsofliteracy.org/5-ways-to-motivate-adult-learners/
4. ↑ https://www.seedsofliteracy.org/5-ways-to-motivate-adult-learners/
5. ↑ https://epale.ec.europa.eu/en/blog/how-do-we-motivate-children-and-adults-become-lifelong-readers?page=0%2C2
6. ↑ https://www.realsimple.com/work-life/start-book-club-checklist
7. ↑ https://paperfury.com/how-to-recommend-books/
8. ↑ https://www.realsimple.com/work-life/start-book-club-checklist
9. ↑ https://livability.com/topics/community/6-tips-to-start-a-little-free-library-in-your-neighborhood