Toronto, ON – August 3, 2021 – 48% of Canadian readers read more diversely last year.
A survey of Canadian readers from non-profit BookNet Canada has found that 73% of readers said that diversity in books means books about perspectives, opinions, or stories that are different from their own and that 62% agreed that books should be representative of a variety of experiences.
When it comes to reading more diversely, 48% of all readers said they had or sometimes had read more diverse books in the last year, though a higher percentage of people who identified themselves as belonging to a non-dominant identity read or sometimes read more diversely last year — 63%.
Readers who had read more diverse books in the last year
read more than the general reader;
were more likely to have bought from places that share their values;
were most likely to agree that libraries and retailers should have and that publishers should publish more books by a greater variety of authors; and
were more likely to say they wanted to see more perspectives, opinions, or stories that are different from their own in books.
The top experiences or perspectives that all readers want to read more about or see more often in their books are mental health challenges (46%), multi-cultural or immigrant experiences (46%), working class experiences (45%), and stories across ages or multi-generational (44%).
The full, free report includes data on how and where readers acquire their books, how and where they discover their books, their perceptions of diversity in the publishing industry, and more. Find it all in On Diversity: A Survey of Canadian Readers 2021.
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BookNet Canada is a non-profit organization that develops technology, standards, and education to serve the Canadian book industry. Founded in 2002 to address systemic challenges in the industry, BookNet Canada supports publishing companies, booksellers, wholesalers, distributors, sales agents, and libraries across the country.
We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Book Fund (CBF) for this project. / Nous reconnaissons l’appui financier du gouvernement du Canada par l’entremise du Fonds du livre du Canada (FLC) pour ce projet.
Media Contact:
Ainsley Sparkes
Marketing & Communications Manager
BookNet Canada
asparkes@booknetcanada.ca
(416) 362-5057 x 2310
