News and Notes from the Greenwood Reading Center
LibraryWise: News and Notes from the Greenwood Reading Center
Hi Friends! Have you ever considered the differences between standard type and large print books? With the advent of book-and-fireside weather and longer reading times, knowing the benefits of print style will help maximize enjoyment.
The most noticeable difference between large print and standard typeface is, obviously, the size of the words on the page. Large Print volumes set the size at around one and a half times the size of the regular version. Traditionally, standard typeface is 12-point type, with more modern books, especially the ones you see on racks at the grocery store, being 10 or 11-point type. One book recently weeded from our collection had print that was 8-point! Larger typeface reduces eyestrain and aids with concentration, especially for less voracious readers.
With such larger type, one would think that the size of the book itself would be quite a bit larger and heavier than its standard counterpart. While large print books tend to be slightly larger than average, publishers tend to mitigate the size with smaller margins and lighter weight paper. This has the extra advantage of reducing the cost of manufacture. Less cost to manufacture also means less cost to us!
Let us not forget e-readers! Type size isn’t the only way to reduce eyestrain. If you prefer digital literary delights, try reading in dark-mode. This is also handy for evening reading, where a partner (or parent) might be bothered by the light. After all, reading under the covers or nightlight is a right of childhood that seems to carry over into adulthood. Have fun!
This column was published in the Addison Post on September 24, 2026.