Greenville Transit Authority chairman Dick O’Neill will be joined by representatives from the Greenville Literacy Association and M. Judson Booksellers unveiled a new Free Library within the Greenlink Transit Center. The Free Little Library will provide Greenlink customers, their families and the general public with access to free reading material.
Although children are often encouraged to read and many programs are designed to increase literacy levels among young people, adults do not receive the same reminders. According to a 2019 Pew Research Center survey, 27% of adults reported not having read a book, in whole or in part, in the past year. Considering that 10 of Greenlink’s bus routes connect to the Transit Center 17 times a day, bus users traveling between routes will now have 17 opportunities to browse the library’s collection and pick up a book for the trip. In 2019, the average passenger bus journey was 5.3 miles (approximately one third of the entire length of the route), which could provide up to 15 minutes of reading on each bus.
Studies show that reading as an adult can have the following benefits:
- Reading can help reduce stress. A 2009 study conducted at the University of Sussex found that reading reduced stress levels by 68%. The study also showed that after reading for just six minutes, readers’ heartbeat began to slow and their muscles began to relax. This means that customers waiting for a bus, even a few minutes in advance, can pick up a book and help reduce daily stress.
- Reading can help keep your mind active as you get older. Many studies show a correlation between reading and preventing dementia, as reading books and magazines can help maintain and improve cognitive functioning. A 2017 demographic study by the Greenlink customer showed that 33% of respondents were over 55, so picking up a book between bus trips can help customers avoid dementia.
- Reading can help you to empathize. In an age marked by isolation, stress and great emotions, it is helpful to be reminded to empathize with one another. Studies published in Science and Public Science Library periodicals in 2013 showed that literary fiction can increase the ability to build social relationships and influence empathy, which means that reading a novel can help Greenlink passengers to better connect with their neighbors.
For more information, contact Nicole McAden, marketing and public affairs manager, at 864-298-2756 or [email protected].