Michigan’s largest used bookstore is seeing a surge in young readers
Despite a decline in general literacy rates, Gen Z is increasingly prioritizing reading as a hobby—and investing in physical media. Staff at John. K King Used and Rare Books chime in.
Interior of John K. King Used and Rare Books.
According to Booketic, 55% of Gen Z say they read for fun at least once a week. John King, owner of John K. King Used and Rare Books in Detroit, has more quantifying evidence.
“Sales have increased for the first six months of this year by 6% so people are buying books. Records were coming back, cassettes I heard were coming back, but books were always there,” says King. He says they’re gaining popularity again because younger people are drawn to media they can hold in their hands, and not have to charge.
King says he began collecting used books in 1965 out of the back of a 1954 Packard. Once he found a reliable building to settle into, his collection grew into what is now the biggest used bookstore in Michigan.
Throughout the years, he has found some unique objects.
Janelle Spann, an employee at John King’s made sure to emphasize that their rare book section was for serious collectors. But when she is in the main building, she sees all kinds of customers.
“There’s a ton of young people that come every Saturday and on their days off. So really, I guess your social media is the one who spreads it,” Spann says.
Owning what you pay for
Oliver English was in the history section with a book on Mesoamerican mythology. They think it’s important to be able to keep the books they buy in an era of endless subscriptions. “As more things go online, it’s definitely more important to be able to hold something, and especially right now, ownership of things, especially online, is moving more towards a rental model. And the thing about physical books is, once you buy it once, you own it.”
The younger employees at John King share the same opinion. Julian Kane, who was on the floor helping customers, points to another looming threat to the way reading used to be.
“I think there is a certain panic in the like in Generation Z or whatever they call it of the AI blowup or any kind of technology that threatens us. I know some people are really excited about it too and see it as a thing that helps them. “
Getting kids invested in reading
Kane’s coworker Shantenay Doss finds young adult novels interesting to read because they’re written for her age group. She says that even younger kids are coming back since their parents have tried to improve their education.
“We have a a literary problem. I think that’s the word I’m using using correctly. But yeah, not a lot of kids are reading anymore, and I don’t even think they’re teaching it well in schools either anymore. So I think now people are coming back and realizing like we got to get to reading again. “
Both Doss and Kane have been surrounded by books their entire lives. Doss says she spent most of her childhood in the library, while Kane found a greater appreciation for physical books as he got older. They both sought out John King’s because of their love for books and found the perfect environment.
“This is kind of a time capsule of a store, and the physical media here has so much charm,” says Kane. “There’s a smell that’s like old books, and it smells like your grandma’s basement or something. “
But people wouldn’t be talking about a decrease in reading if it wasn’t becoming a real issue. English says an open mind could be the key to taking a chance on a book.
“Well, there’s so many of them. Statistically, there’s going to be one you like. You and also, you have to have an open mind. If you go in saying ‘I don’t like books,’ then you’re not going to find one. But if you go in saying I’ll look at the titles, even if the cover looks pretty, just pick it up, and maybe you’ll like it.”
Open minds, open books
King is prepared for open minds. He says he makes sure to keep the books he knows people want in stock, so they can find the next thing they might fall in love with.
“The rarity basically is not that important. We’re more interested in filling the needs of the people, and most of the people want Tolkien, they want Philip K. Dick, they want Jane Austen. So those are are golden books for us because… they’re 100% sellers. “
Even if customers don’t buy a book, Julian Kane says the experience of going to John King’s is a memorable one—even if it’s a bit overwhelming at first. “It’s it’s one of those stores you go into and you’re like ‘what is going on, like how do I find anything?’ But you get absorbed into the novelty of it. The first time you come in you’re like, ‘okay wow I could really spend hours here the next time I come back.'”
In King’s words finding the right book is like a lottery—you don’t win every day, but now and then you’ll find something thrilling.
