Personal growth, habits, and understanding: Pleasure reading among first-year university students

This thesis examines the reading habits and experiences of first-year undergraduate students at Dalhousie University and the University of King's College in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Participants were recruited to participate in focus groups and responses were analysed to more fully understand the pleasure reading habits and experiences of this group. This research addresses five aspects of the reading experience and habits of this group: (1) the role of reading in their lives, both academic and personal; (2) the development of reading habits from childhood; (3) how they engage with what they read; (4) how they select what they read; and (5) their online reading behaviour and engagement. The conclusions of this research address these five aspects of the reading experience and habits and provide recommendations for librarians and university administration in an effort to respond to increasing demand to engage students and increase rates of retention in postsecondary institutions.