The Benefits of Reading
During Library Week, we revisit our conversation with Grażyna Ruta-Balińska, a teacher librarian at the Pedagogical Regional Library in Bydgoszcz and the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Education Leader 2024.
What is the state of book readership in Poland? On the one hand, we see alarming reports about people reading only one or two books per year; on the other hand, book fairs attract huge crowds.
Regular readership studies conducted by the National Library give cause for cautious optimism. (…) I believe that if, from the earliest years, we provide children with good opportunities to engage with books, it will bring positive results in the future. It is worth taking every opportunity to show children the benefits of reading — and those benefits are numerous.
Numerous studies confirm that books have an enormous impact on children’s emotional, intellectual, and social development. Reading shapes competencies, helps equalize educational opportunities, develops imagination, improves concentration and attention span, and teaches empathy and sensitivity. Children should grow up believing that books can genuinely support their all-round development.
It is also important for children to develop positive associations with books, so that reading becomes a pleasure rather than an unpleasant obligation — a great form of entertainment and a way to relax. Reading brings joy, can help solve problems, or simply provide enjoyment. Equally important is stepping away from the virtual world and focusing on reading without a computer or phone. I believe that we, teacher librarians, should instill good reading habits in children systematically, from an early age.
Przyjazne czytelnikom wnętrze w nowym skrzydle Książnicy Kopernikańskiej, fot. Mikołaj Kuras dla UMWKP
Is your professional field — encouraging young children and teenagers to read and nurturing their interest in books — a difficult one?
I would rather say that it is long-term work, because it does not bring immediate results. Reading education essentially lasts a lifetime, and the earlier we begin, the better the results we achieve. If we work on many levels, with the involvement of librarians, teachers, and parents, we will achieve our goal: raising a generation of readers. (…)
What do you yourself read for pleasure?
I love reading, I read every day, and I openly admit that it is my favorite way to unwind, de-stress, and relax. I do not limit myself to one literary genre — I read reportage, travel books, biographies, crime novels, and contemporary fiction.
For years, my favorite author has been Joanna Bator. I always eagerly await each new release. I admire her immense literary talent, her ability to tell difficult stories, create vivid and complex characters, and construct intricate plots that always come together beautifully. I also appreciate her attention to detail and the beautiful language of her novels.
I also enjoy books set in Bydgoszcz and the surrounding area, and quite a few of them have appeared recently. When it comes to crime fiction, I always look forward with excitement to new books by Robert Małecki, an author from Toruń. The combination of criminal plots with the difficult personal stories of the characters, all set in our region, creates excellent results. These books are impossible to put down.
I read only printed books. I truly enjoy contact with traditional books — the rustle of pages, the smell of ink, and the experience of turning the pages.
25 October 2024 / 11 May 2026