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

The number of bachelor’s degrees conferred in the humanities at Stanford has fallen by 56% since 2003, according to data compiled by the Daily. Those numbers reflect a broader nationwide trend, with one study 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 reading from their patrons. 

Bell’s Books in downtown Palo Alto has served those readers 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, he 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, Falk said.

While the numerical trends may seem concerning, Falk believes that there is more to the story than a disinterest in the humanities themselves. The decline, he added, 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 of used offerings stocked for patrons since 1996. The community hub offers author talks, poetry readings and book clubs. Jack Powers, a bookseller at Feldman’s, has seen a similar;y persistent interest from customers.

“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.

Commenting on the decline in humanities students, Powers voiced concern at what this could mean for the wider 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.

Falk addressed why many feel drawn to literature, saying that “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.”