Reading for fun

By Catherine Ragsdale
The Collegian

Many Fresno State students rarely read for pleasure — with all the paper writing, studying, partying and football-game watching they do.

“Reading during the semester is a difficult task; especially if you have a heavy workload or are balancing school and work — as I am,” Senior David Fajoni said. “There’s just no time to read anything that’s not related to one of your classes.”

Fresno State’s Henry Madden Library isn’t set up to encourage pleasure reading either — yet.

“The academic library is set up to support classes on campus. We buy things for what is taught. The public library is made for pleasure reading, and has grants to purchase those types of books,” said Kimberley Robles-Smith, the Collection Development Librarian at the Madden Library.

In fall 2008 the new library will open along with a leisure reading room that will contain current popular books.

The library staff has enrolled in a reading service designed specifically for academic libraries. The library will rent current popular books without actually purchasing them. Every couple of months the books will be switched out for new books.

“We will never be able to compete with the public library, but we do hope this program goes well,” Robles-Smith said.

Although the Madden Library is an academic library and not set up to carry much pleasure reading, there is plenty academic reading that can be fun.

“A lot of students see reading as a chore unfortunately because of other media like television, the Internet and computer games. None of those match what you go through intellectually when you read a book for fun,” said David Tyckoson, Madden Library Head of Public Services.

Although he can’t recommend books, Tyckoson said he enjoyed reading the “Harry Potter” books and Homer’s “Odyssey.”

Fresno State English professor -Reuben Sanchez said “Don Quixote” is one of his favorites, which he recommends to students. “It’s a hard book. Once students get into it, they find it funny and pleasurable,” Sanchez said.

Some students do read for pleasure when they have time.

Freshman Karla Velazquez, a Madden Library reference desk student assistant, is reading “Scar Tissue” by Anthony Kiedis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The biographical book is a detailed history of Kiedis and the band.

“I’m a big Red Hot Chili Peppers fan. It’s a very interesting book,” Velazquez said.

Former Fresno State student Brandon Duenas recommends “Fight Club for free-time reading
“The books are always better than the movies. Reading books is more stimulating for the mind than staring at a TV,” Duenas said.

Comment on this story in the Features forum >>