Amid decreasing adult literacy rates, local bookstores are continuing to try to cultivate an appreciation for reading and the humanities.

The decline in adult literacy comes at a time when interest in the humanities is seeing a decline. The number bachelor’s degrees conferred in the humanities at Stanford have plummeted by 56% since 2003, according to data compiled by the Daily. This reflects a broader nationwide trend, as demonstrated by a study conducted by the Academy of Arts and Sciences showing that only 16% of adults read for pleasure in 2023.

But local bookstores say they continue to see an interest in the reading from their patrons. 

Bell’s Books in downtown Palo Alto has aimed to cultivate an appreciation for the humanities in the community since 1935. With titles dating back to the 15th century, the bookstore originally consisted of a station wagon known as The College Book Company, dedicated primarily to supplying Stanford students with textbooks. Nearly a century later, the bookstore is nestled in Emerson Street.

Kris Falk, a manager at the independently-owned bookstore, has witnessed an evolution in readers’ interest. Over his eight years at Bell’s Books, Falk has noticed that the shift in readership lies in its depth. Rather than buying “ten or 15 copies of something on the same topic,” patrons tend to stick to the literature they read in high school, he said.

While the numerical trends may seem concerning, Falk believes there is more to the story than a disinterest in the humanities themselves. The problem with this decline, according to Falk, stems from the limitations we place upon a university education.

“I think people look at it as some sort of investment, as though there’s some sort of direct correlation between what they’re studying and what they’re going to do in the future. The advantage of any education should be that you’ve seen more possibilities,” Falk said.

Over in the neighboring city of Menlo Park, Feldman’s Books has kept its shelves stocked for patrons since 1996. A used bookstore in downtown Menlo Park, the community hub offers author talks, poetry readings and book clubs. Jack Powers, a bookseller at Feldman’s, has seen a similar persistent interest in reading and the humanities.

“People who come to this space value cultural literacy. We run a little bit counter to mainstream institutions where you do see a decline in humanities,” Powers said.

Down at Feldman’s Books, however, Powers explained that strong engagement has been maintained at its community events each week. Events at the cultural hub include Monday Night Plato and Historical Fiction Book Club.

On the plummeting interest in disciplines within the humanities, Powers expressed concern at what this may mean for the greater academic culture. “[It] really frightens me. Embracing the humanities encourages you to be a lifelong learner. Without a solid foundation in the humanities, people don’t really learn how to think critically,” he said.

Similarly, Falk voiced that there are some things only disciplines of the humanities can offer, especially at a university situated at the heart of Silicon Valley like Stanford. 

Speaking on why many feel drawn to literature, Falk said, “Reading is a very intimate experience, and it can’t be replicated by sitting around coding. I think that people are looking for more analog types of experiences, and one of them is the beauty of a book.”