At a time when the demand for highly literate workers is escalating, rates of literary reading in America are suffering from sharp declines. This issue brief from the National Governors’ Association Center for Best Practices finds states across the country are actively working to increase reading and participation in literary activities. States have recognized that engaging citizens in these activities yields multiple benefits, such as promoting lifelong learning to improve workforce skills and increasing civic engagement and community identity. The brief, State Efforts to Promote Reading and Literary Activities, provides a variety of policies and programs states can use to enhance the individual and community benefits of reading. This is one of a series of issue briefs on the economic importance of the arts.