By Sheikha Suhaila Fahad Al-Sabah
Managing Editor

Not so long ago, public libraries teemed with life, bustling with seekers of knowledge, their shelves overflowing with eager hands turning pages with passion, while bags laden with paper treasures were carried home like precious relics. Then, the scene gradually changed, that activity waned, screens replaced shelves, and fingers glided effortlessly across cold glass, while libraries stood silent, as if waiting for someone to breathe life back into them.

This raises the pressing question: Have young people truly turned away from reading, or have they simply changed their direction and tools to align with the rhythm of the times? The undeniable truth is that reading has not died; it has transformed and its forms have changed. The young person who is rarely seen carrying a physical book devours dozens of articles, publications, and titles daily through their smartphone.

However, this transformation has not come without a cost; The prevalence of rapid, fragmented reading has imposed a new pattern of engagement, weakening the capacity for in-depth study and reflection, and replacing immersion in a lengthy book with a superficial skimming of catchy, flashy titles.

Furthermore, libraries have often failed to keep pace with these transformations, leaving their books confined to outdated shelves, failing to reflect the interests of the new generation or address their evolving questions. Educational institutions, for their part, have also contributed to widening the gap by focusing on rote learning and memorization, neglecting the teaching of research and inquiry skills, thus transforming reading into an academic burden rather than an intellectual pursuit.

On the other hand, the internet has emerged as a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it has flung open the doors of knowledge, making access to information faster and easier than ever before. On the other hand, it has encouraged intellectual laziness and diminished patience with printed books. The internet, with its diversity and allure, has become the preferred choice for many, especially given the availability of books and resources that may not be found in public libraries, further discouraging young people from visiting them.

The problem is exacerbated by the proliferation of ready-made research papers, which commodify knowledge and eliminate the need for research and reading, allowing students to simply submit a quick product to obtain a degree. This phenomenon not only stifles the passion for reading but also empties the educational process of its essence, severs the connection between students and books, and transforms knowledge into a mere formality rather than an intellectual experience.

Despite this seemingly bleak picture, hope has not been entirely extinguished. Book fairs continue to attract significant numbers of young people, a clear indication that the generation’s relationship with books has not been severed, but rather needs to be rekindled and nurtured. Furthermore, a growing segment of the population seeks serious digital content that transcends superficiality and simplistic summaries, restoring the profound meaning of reading, even if only through a screen.

Therefore, salvaging this landscape becomes a collective responsibility that cannot be postponed. Families are called upon to instill a love of reading from childhood, even if only through a small home library that serves as a constant window to knowledge.

Educational institutions are called upon to reinstate the value of independent research, teach library and resource literacy skills, and organize reading competitions that stimulate curiosity and reward effort. Public libraries, for their part, must modernize their content and resources, keep pace with the interests of young people, and integrate print and digital materials to become engaging spaces rather than silent repositories.

Amidst all this, it remains essential to recall the profound significance of the first word revealed in the Quran: ‘Read’. It is not a fleeting command or a mere cultural slogan, but a way of life, a foundation for progress, and the key to advancement. Reading has always been, and remains, the broadest path to awareness and the strongest bridge to civilization.

Reading among young people has not declined in its absolute sense, but its medium and pace have changed. It has shifted from paper to screen, from leisure to speed, and from depth to brevity.

What is required today is not to fight technology or dwell on the past, but to find a smart balance that combines the old and the new, the paper and the digital, so that reading remains a beacon of knowledge, a tool of enlightenment, and an active force in creating a more conscious and mature future.