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Reading is at the heart of what public libraries do. But as reading habits evolve, attention becomes increasingly fragmented, and access to books faces new challenges, how can libraries inspire more people to read?
That question brought library leaders, publishers, researchers, and industry experts together for the 2026 Library Journal Directors' Summit, held October 22–23 at Winter Park Library in Florida.
Under the theme Elevating Reading in America, the summit explored everything from Gen Z reading habits and the growing popularity of social reading to eBook licensing, intellectual freedom, and the role of libraries in building stronger communities of readers.
BiblioCommons joined the conversation, and we came away with ten takeaways that reinforce why reading matters and the opportunities public libraries have to make it a bigger part of people's lives.
1. Reading Belongs at the Heart of Public Libraries
Public libraries do far more than provide access to books. They offer programs, technology, learning opportunities, and essential community services. But reading remains central to their mission.
As author and librarian Nancy Pearl reminded attendees, no other institution is quite like a public library when it comes to nurturing a community of readers.
Bookstores operate within a commercial model. Schools balance reading with other educational priorities. Publishers focus on their own titles. Public libraries, however, welcome everyone, from avid readers who finish several books a week to people who haven't picked up a book in years.
The opportunity for libraries: Make reading visible and central to the library experience. Whether through curated collections, staff recommendations, or programs, libraries can help more people see reading as something that belongs in their lives.
2. Reading Is Good for You, and That's Worth Talking About
We often talk about reading in terms of literacy, education, and lifelong learning. But what about the simple pleasure of getting lost in a good book?
Reading can also contribute to personal well-being.
Nicole Magoon, Media and Entertainment Partner at Bain & Company, highlighted research suggesting that even six minutes of reading can reduce stress. Author and London Times columnist James Marriott described reading as a "mental workout" that strengthens focus, critical thinking, and the ability to engage with complex ideas.
And sometimes, reading offers something just as valuable: a chance to escape the demands of everyday life.
The opportunity for libraries: Consider how reading is promoted to the community. Alongside education and literacy, there's an opportunity to talk about reading as a source of relaxation, enjoyment, and personal well-being.
3. Reading Is Becoming a Social Experience
Reading may be something we do individually, but sharing that experience with others can make it even more rewarding.
Across the country, libraries are finding creative ways to bring readers together, and the results are encouraging.
At Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, a friendly summer reading competition between branches helped increase books logged by 626%, with one branch, Sheridan, seeing an increase of 5,070%.
The New York Public Library hosted an after-hours reading party where attendees simply brought their own books and read together. The event welcomed 1,200 people, with another 400 turned away, and attracted a noticeably younger audience than many traditional library programs.
Meanwhile, Carroll County Public Library in Maryland brought Battle of the Books to adults, hosting the competition at a local brewery.
These examples show that reading doesn't always have to be a solitary activity. Sometimes, the opportunity to connect with other readers is what brings people through the library doors.
The opportunity for libraries: Think beyond traditional book clubs. Reading parties, friendly competitions, community reading challenges, and unexpected partnerships can create new reasons for people to read and connect.
4. Print Books Still Matter, Especially to Gen Z
With the continued growth of eBooks and audiobooks, it's easy to assume younger generations are moving away from print.
But research presented at the summit tells a different story.
Dr. Rachel Noorda, Director of Book Publishing, Professor at Portland State University, shared that Gen Z readers move comfortably between print books, ebooks, and audiobooks, but print remains their preferred format.
The takeaway isn't that one format is winning over another. It's that readers want choices, and their preferences may change depending on what they're reading, where they are, and how they want to engage with a book.
For public libraries, that makes it increasingly important to help patrons discover everything available to them, regardless of format.
The opportunity for libraries: Make it easy for patrons to explore print, digital, and audio collections together. Readers shouldn't have to navigate disconnected experiences or individual vendor platforms just to find their next great read.
5. Gen Z Trusts Libraries and Librarians' Recommendations
At a time when people are surrounded by online recommendations, algorithms, and social media content, librarians continue to hold a valuable position as trusted guides.
Research presented by Kathi Inman Berens, Professor, English Department: Publishing and Digital Humanities at Portland State University, and Rachel Noorda revealed some encouraging trends:
36% of Gen Z readers discover books through librarians, an increase of 15 percentage points since 2022.
Two-thirds of Gen Z used their public library in the past year, up 13 percentage points.
13% use library computers specifically for the privacy they provide.
These findings challenge the assumption that younger readers rely exclusively on social media and digital platforms to find books.
They also reinforce something librarians have long understood: a thoughtful recommendation from someone who knows books and understands readers can make a meaningful difference.
The opportunity for libraries: Bring librarians' expertise into more places where patrons discover books. Staff-curated lists, personalized recommendations, curated online catalog displays, and readers' advisory services can help libraries extend that trusted human connection beyond the physical branch.
6. eBook Pricing and Licensing Remain Important Conversations
Digital collections have expanded access to reading, but the economics of library eBooks continue to present challenges.
During a panel bringing together publishers, booksellers, and digital content providers, participants acknowledged the shared goal of getting more books into readers' hands. Yet libraries continue to face eBook prices that can be several times higher than consumer prices, along with licensing restrictions that complicate collection development and budgeting.
There are signs of change. Several major publishers are exploring more flexible approaches, including metered access, cost-per-circulation models, and subscriptions.
Skip Dye, Senior Vice President of Sales Operations at Penguin Random House, also called for more productive conversations among publishers, librarians, authors, and readers to better understand the challenges each group faces.
The opportunity for libraries: Continue advocating for sustainable digital lending models that balance publisher and author interests with libraries' responsibility to provide equitable access to reading. Collaboration across the industry will be essential to making progress.
The 2026 Library Journal Directors' Summit program featured keynote speaker Nancy Pearl and sessions exploring reading engagement, readers' advisory, and the future of reading in public libraries.
7. Reading Helps Build Informed, Connected Communities
Reading introduces us to experiences, ideas, and perspectives beyond our own. It encourages us to question assumptions, think critically, and better understand the people around us. Those benefits extend well beyond the individual reader. A healthy reading community is not necessarily a community that agrees with one another … It's a community in which stories, ideas, and experiences can be shared.
James Marriott described reading as “one of the foundational acts of living in a democratic society,” reinforcing the important role reading plays in encouraging critical thinking and an understanding of different perspectives.
The message was clear: communities don't need to agree on everything to benefit from reading together.
The opportunity for libraries: Continue creating opportunities for people to encounter different perspectives through diverse collections, reading programs, and community conversations. Libraries play an important role in protecting the freedom to read and making room for a wide range of voices.
8. Don't Underestimate Readers' Appetite for Longer Books
In a world of short videos, quick headlines, and constant notifications, it's tempting to assume that people no longer have the patience for long-form reading. But several Directors' Summit speakers challenged that idea.
James Marriott recalled being drawn to difficult books as a teenager precisely because they felt ambitious and rewarding. "We shouldn't underestimate how much … the difficulty of books can be part of their attraction."
Skip Dye raised concerns about the growing use of short excerpts in education instead of complete books, reinforcing the importance of helping readers engage with longer works. Speakers also shared examples of programs where patrons welcomed the opportunity to tackle substantial books together.
Nancy Pearl even closed the summit with a recommendation to reread Lonesome Dove, a reminder that some of the most rewarding reading experiences take time.
The opportunity for libraries: Give readers reasons to embrace longer books. Community reading challenges, guided discussions, and programs centered on classics or ambitious contemporary works can make substantial reading feel inviting rather than intimidating.
9. School and Public Libraries Need Each Other
School libraries are facing significant pressures, from reduced staffing and funding to growing challenges around access to books.
At the summit, Skip Dye highlighted the impact of cuts to school librarian positions and the increasing number of books removed or restricted in schools. These challenges make partnerships between public libraries and schools especially important.
Britten Follett, CEO of Follett Content Solutions, shared an example from Connecticut, where public librarians visit classrooms weekly to build relationships with students and encourage participation in summer reading programs. The approach helps connect reading experiences during the school year with opportunities available through the public library. “If you raise that patron during the school year to want to come in in the summertime, it’s going to really just make a more complete reading ecosystem.”
For a related example of how public libraries can support student reading outcomes, explore our webinar, Improving Reading Scores with Indianapolis Public Library, to learn how their partnership with local schools is helping more students access books and strengthen their reading skills.
The opportunity for libraries: Strengthen relationships with local schools through classroom visits, shared reading initiatives, student library card programs, and coordinated summer reading activities. These partnerships can help young people develop lasting connections with books and libraries.
10. People Want to Read More. Libraries Can Help Them Get There.
Perhaps one of the most encouraging messages from the summit was also one of the simplest: people still want to read.
Nicole Magoon shared findings from Bain & Company's media survey showing that books and ebooks are among the activities people most wish they spent more time enjoying. Research presented at the summit showed that readers often choose books based on genre, familiar authors, and recommendations from people they trust. This reinforces the value of readers' advisory and the important role libraries play in connecting people with books they'll enjoy.
And they bring us back to Dr. S. R. Ranganathan's Five Laws of Library Science:
First Law: Books are for use.
Second Law: Every reader his or her book.
Third Law: Every book its reader.
Fourth Law: Save the time of the reader.
Fifth Law: The library is a growing organism.
Nearly a century later, those principles remain remarkably relevant.
The opportunity for libraries: Make finding the right book easier. Help patrons explore beyond familiar authors and genres, connect them with recommendations they can trust, and remove unnecessary barriers between discovering a title and enjoying it.
Bringing Reading Back to the Center
If there was one message that connected the conversations at the 2026 Library Journal Directors' Summit, it was this: people haven't lost their interest in reading. They need:
1. More opportunities,
2. Encouragement, and
3. Support to make reading part of their lives.
Public libraries are uniquely positioned to provide all three.
From helping younger generations discover books to making reading a shared community experience, libraries are already finding creative ways to reach readers. And as formats, habits, and expectations continue to change, the opportunity to build stronger communities of readers only grows.
The challenge now is to make reading easier to discover, more inviting to participate in, and more visible in everything libraries offer; because the next great reading experience might be exactly what someone needs. They just haven't found it yet.
Want to explore more ideas for helping patrons discover their next great read?
See how the layout of your catalog's homepage can keep patrons browsing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Was the Theme of the 2026 Library Journal Directors' Summit?
The 2026 Library Journal Directors' Summit, held October 22–23 at Winter Park Library in Florida, focused on Elevating Reading in America. Library leaders, authors, researchers, and publishing industry representatives explored how public libraries can encourage reading, respond to changing reading habits, and strengthen their role in building communities of readers.
How Can Public Libraries Encourage More People to Read?
Public libraries can encourage reading by making books easier to discover, offering trusted staff recommendations, and creating opportunities for readers to connect. Examples shared at the summit included reading parties, friendly competitions between library branches, adult reading challenges, and partnerships with local organizations.
How Are Gen Z Reading Habits Changing?
Research presented at the summit showed that Gen Z readers engage with print books, eBooks, and audiobooks, although print remains their preferred format. The research also found that 36% discover books through librarians, an increase of 15 percentage points since 2022, and two-thirds had used their public library in the previous year.
Why Are School and Public Library Partnerships Important?
Partnerships between school and public libraries can help students access more books, develop reading habits, and stay engaged with reading outside the classroom. Initiatives such as classroom visits, coordinated summer reading programs, and shared literacy activities help connect students with library resources throughout the year.
What Role Does Readers' Advisory Play in Encouraging Reading?
Readers' advisory helps people find books that match their interests, preferences, and reading goals. Research shared at the summit showed that readers often choose books based on genre, familiar authors, and recommendations from trusted sources. Librarians can build on these preferences through personalized suggestions, curated book lists, and online discovery tools.