As the Post reported yesterday, “DC residents rank as the nation’s most well-read” according to a new study from Central Connecticut State University. The America’s Most Literate Cities study “ranks the largest cities (population 250,000 and above) in the United States on six key indicators of literacy: newspaper circulation, number of bookstores, library resources, periodical publishing resources, educational attainment, and Internet resources.”
In the category-specific rankings, DC also holds the #1 spot in Newspaper Circulation, Periodical Publishers, and Internet Resources — which, considering the sheer volume of news content that emerges from Greater Washington every day, comes as not much of a surprise. On DCentric, Anna John also posits: “I think one of the reasons DC loves reading is because we’re always on our way somewhere, waiting for a bus or train.” Speaking purely anecdotally, she does have a point. On the Metro, on the Mall, even in a short line for coffee, many of us can’t seem to put down the paper or the book. Or the Kindle.
However, the study does focus on indicators of literacy, rather than straightforward literacy rates — and many of those indicators (such as large libraries) are better resources for those who are already literate, rather than those striving to become literate. Newspaper circulation and internet resources are crucial, for sure; but how frequently do they benefit those without access to a news stand or computer? And as the Washington Literacy Council well knows, over 1/3 of DC residents are functionally illiterate and that percentage only increases in the poorer areas of the city.
So the CCSU study perhaps does not reflect the intricate reality of literacy in DC. But that said, it does make an essential, and positive, implication: whether or not DC is currently the most literate city in the country, our region absolutely can spread, teach, and encourage literacy with great effectiveness. Because the resources are all here. The next step is making them useable, useful, and open for everyone. Quite a few of our non-profits are focused on exactly that — so why not read the study and then check them out?
Thanks for writing about this. We (D.C. LEARNs) wrote about this as well:
http://bit.ly/h2MQ7F
This annual study is sort of a pet peeve of ours. I think the authors of the study are clear that they are looking at literacy *behaviors,* NOT literacy *skills* – a critical distinction. The problem for us, and for many literacy advocates is that the media does not make this distinction clear. (Although USA Today did a better job this year.)
There is no question, in terms of literacy skills, Washington D.C. has a serious adult literacy problem. We’ve compiled the numbers here:
http://bit.ly/9DLKHM
Washington D.C.’s literacy skills problem doesn’t get a lot of media attention, so that may be why the attention paid to this survey every year is frustrating!
Really interesting point, Jeff — especially the distinction between literacy behaviors and skills. Why do you think the wider media tends to focus on the former? Simply because they’re easier to measure?