Regarding the Aug. 7 “Family TV” column (“Pull the plug/Instead of watching `Arthur’ and his TV pals, pick up a book and read about them,” Tempo):
Since last November, when “Arthur” began on PBS, we have doubled the number of copies of each of the “Arthur” books. We display them on a book rack because it does not pay to put them in their regular shelf space. They do not stay in the library long enough for that. In fact, we often must go to the returned books to get them for our young patrons.
The PBS series has definitely increased book reading of these titles and of other books that children take out as long as they are in the library. They are inspired to come to get the books from the series, and they don’t care which title they get as long as they haven’t read it. They have even taken out the Christmas book in July!
The same can be said for “The Magic School Bus” books, videos and CD-ROMs. Because of the TV programs, these books and others as well are getting read and used more than they were before the programs aired. TV doesn’t always substitute for reading. It can and, in these cases, does encourage reading. Of course, a parental and family environment that encourages reading helps too.
