The Columbian (Vancouver, Washington)
Take a Bow, Readers;
New literacy rankings and UW program put the Northwest in spotlight

December 7, 2005

Columbian editorial writers

Reading is in. And it's especially "in" in Seattle, which has been named the most literate big city in America in a new study by Dr. John Miller of Central Connecticut State University, who has produced the list for three consecutive years.

Good for Seattle. And good for Portland-Vancouver. Miller, who only considers cities of 250,000 or more population, ranks Portland 11th nationally. That reflects well on Clark County because the criteria for this less-than-scientific ranking include some factors that aren't negated by the Columbia River, such as bookstores. If you've been to the mammoth Powell's book store on Burnside Street, for example, you're part of the reason for the Portland ranking.

Besides bookstores, factors include newspaper circulation, educational attainment, Internet book orders, library resources, public wireless access and periodical publications.

Of Seattle's first-place ranking, Seattle author Nancy Pearl told The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, "I don't think it's surprising. I think what's surprising is that we were second last time." She cited support for independent bookstores as evidence of Seattle's high literacy. A library spokeswoman said another sign of Seattle's love of reading is that 80 percent of the residents have library cards.
 

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