Farmingdale Public Library book clubs show why reading still matters

By Nicholas Tsaveras  

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/f82e51_7e3918d018314efc8eeef42a3822d127/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

FARMINGDALE, N.Y. - As screens continue to dominate daily life, book clubs at the Farmingdale Public Library are giving readers something many say is harder to find online, which is human connection.

At a time when smartphones, streaming platforms and social media constantly compete for attention, the library’s monthly book clubs offer a space where readers can slow down, reflect and connect through shared stories. For many members, the conversations go far beyond the book themselves.

Natalie Korsavidis, Local History Librarian at Farmingdale Public Library, said her once-a month afternoon club has become much more than a literary discussion.

That sense of connection is especially important as concerns continue to grow over declining literacy and reduced reading for pleasure among younger generations, A recent Havard Gazette report noted that the United States literacy rates have been falling since the middle of the last decade, with experts pointing to screen-based childhoods and less pleasure reading as major concerns. 

Christine McCarthy, a Reference Librarian at Farmingdale Public Library, who runs the library’s Books on Tap group, said she see similar challenges.

“I think it’s just because there’s so much competing for their attention,” McCarthy said, referring to younger readers and the constant pull of phones and digital entertainment.

That trend has also become part of a national conversation. Recent reporting surrounding Gen Z’s reactions to the classic literature such as Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë due to the recent film adaptation, directed by Emerald Fennell, has reignited debate over whether younger readers are struggling with longer, more complex texts because of shorter digital attention spans. 

Still, both librarians believe reading remains essential in today’s world.

“I think it really helps teach you empathy, and it helps you see things from a different person’s point of view,” McCarthy said.

Korsavidis echoed that idea, saying books allow readers to experience cultures, places and perspectives they may never encounter in everyday life.

Beyond offering stories, the library’s book clubs provide something many online spaces cannot fully recreate with face-to-face companionship, laughter and meaningful discussions rooted in personal experiences.

In a world increasingly shaped by algorithms and fast-moving content, the book clubs at the Farmingdale Public Library continue to prove that reading still matters. Not only for literacy, but for empathy, imagination, and community.