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ValleyREADS: Reading at Kalamazoo Valley

What is ValleyREADS?

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Welcome to ValleyREADS

Kalamazoo Valley Libraries hope to foster a community of readers at Kalamazoo Valley Community College.  

Reading can lead to personal and academic growth.  And, sharing books and new ideas is a powerful way to connect with others. 

Wherever you are on your reading journey, explore these resources to connect with books and people in the Kalamazoo Valley community.  

Benefits of Reading

Research shows that reading for pleasure...

  • Correlates with academic achievement
  • Promotes empathy and prosocial behavior
  • Improves reading comprehension
  • Increases vocabulary
  • Improves reading fluency and speed
  • Helps with writing, grammar, and spelling
  • Correlates with increased creativity and ability to solve problems
  • Helps us learn about other people, cultures, and perspectives
  • Relieves stress and anxiety
  • Promotes critical thinking

 

  • Dewan, P. (2019). Reading in the Age of Continuous Partial Attention: Retail-Inspired Ideas for Academic Libraries. Reference & User Services Quarterly58(3), 177–187. https://doi.org/10.5860/rusq.58.3.7045
  • Dewan, P. (2013). Reading Matters in the Academic Library. Reference & User Services Quarterly52(4), 309–319. https://doi.org/10.5860/rusq.52n4.309
  • Gallik, J.D. (1999). Do they read for pleasure? recreational reading habits of college students.  Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 42(6), 480-488.  
  • Johnson, D. R., Cushman, G. K., Borden, L. A., & McCune, M. S. (2013). Potentiating empathic growth: Generating imagery while reading fiction increases empathy and prosocial behavior. Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts, 7(3), 306-312. doi:https://doi.org/10.1037/a0033261
  • Kelly, K. E., & Kneipp, L. B. (2009). Reading for Pleasure and Creativity among College Students. College Student Journal43(4), 1137–1144.

Reasons to Read

ValleyCat

Find books at the Kalamazoo Valley Libraries with ValleyCat, our online catalog.  

Enter Title, Subject, or Author

ValleyCat Tutorials

MelCat

Can't find your book at the Kalamazoo Valley Libraries?  Request a book from MeLCat, a network of Michigan libraries.