Windsorites read more during quarantine.

The book-reading rates of Winsdorites have increased during quarantine.

According to an Ipsos survey commissioned by Indigo Books & Music Inc., Canadian adult readers report that they spend an average of six hours per week reading at least one book.

Kitty Pope, chief executive officer of the Windsor Public Library, said people are reading more than ever in these times.

“People are binge-watching, but they’re also binge-reading,” said Pope. “During the pandemic, we have seen a big increase in non-fiction. Books on (topics) like how to build a desk at home, how to repair your skateboard etc. are popular.”

Pope also said that the people of Windsor have a reading pattern that is unique.

“We absolutely love to read American history and politics,” said Pope. “Michelle Obama’s Becoming was published in 2018 but became a bestseller for the Windsor Public Library in 2020. We rented our copies over four hundred times.”

Vishal Rajeswari is an avid reader who said he did not get much time to read books once he started college.

“During my school days, I used to read a lot,” said Rajeswari. “But when I went to college and after that when I went to work, I didn’t get much time to read books.”

Rajeswari also said the quarantine has helped him read more.

“During the pandemic, the one thing I wanted to do was read as much as possible and I did,” said Rajeswari. “Since work has started now, I have gone into the concept of e-book and it helps me to read books whenever I want.”

According to a report by BookNet Canada, 63 per cent of Canadian readers borrowed a book from their local library at least once in 2019.