While recreational reading material was once an integral part of the academic library collection and librarians were seen as guides in reading development for students, this has not been the case in the last 50 years. Fiscal constraints have forced library professionals to make choices so that leisure reading material has not been viewed as a high priority. Instead, collection development has focused on materials that directly support academic research, and there has been a move away from books in favor of periodical literature. Many valid arguments can be made for the reintroduction of pleasure reading materials into academic library collections, or at least a retooling of existing collections to serve pleasure reading demands more effectively. For a minimal investment, academic libraries can raise their profile on campus and entice students into the building. Through readers' advisory conversations, librarians can engage students and teach them about the library classification and retrieval systems in a less intimidating way. In addition, libraries will better support the academic goals of the university by applying the wealth of research that indicates that reading helps to develop the critical thinking and writing skills of students.