08/21/2026
According to developmental psychologist Robyn Fivush, Ph.D., in Psychology Today, research suggests reading fiction can help build empathy, perspective-taking and prosocial skills by immersing readers in lives and experiences different from their own. Fiction may also help reduce feelings of loneliness and strengthen skills that support real-world social connection, while reading more broadly is associated with cognitive and well-being benefits.
For libraries, it's another reminder that encouraging people to read for pleasure isn't just about books—stories can help people understand one another, connect and feel part of a shared human experience.
For anyone wondering whether libraries are still relevant, this research offers another reminder: access to stories can help people build empathy, understand perspectives beyond their own, and feel more connected to others. By making those stories freely available to everyone, libraries support something communities need as much as ever—opportunities to understand one another and connect through our shared human experience.
Read the full article:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-stories-of-our-lives/202608/reading-fiction-connects-us-to-the-human-story