If You Want Your Kids to Read...

Yes! Summer is officially here, along with the Summer Reading Program. We have a good start with a number of kids, teens, and adults participating and collecting cool prizes. Those who haven't registered online are registering in person at the library, which is great--we always love seeing families coming in! One thing that surprises me a little, however, is parents signing their children up for the Summer Reading Program but not themselves.

I know, I know. We adults have no time for fun. The kids are home from school, and we're trying to keep them entertained while working, cooking, cleaning, and keeping up with the bills. We may feel we have no time for something that feels counterproductive, like reading. It's something for the kids to do, not the adults. Well, I'm here to change your mind.

If children don't see you reading, they will have less incentive to read. Kids love imitating the adults in their lives. If they see adults doing something, no matter what it is, they want to do it, too. And you know what's even better? When you read together with your kids. It's quality (and fun) time for everyone involved. Not to mention it's a great opportunity to nurture your relationship with your children.

Don't think you need to read "grown-up" books to participate in the Summer Reading Program. Reading children's books with your kids is still reading; it counts for your reading logs and theirs. And listening to audiobooks is also reading. Bottom line--if you want your kids to read and take part in the Summer Reading Program, be sure to take part in it yourself--you'll be glad you did.

Wishing you a summer full of fun reading from the perch.

What I've Been Reading (and Liked!)

The Summer Reading Program is here, which means we should all be reading books we enjoy (though, if you ask me, that's what we should be doing year round). Reading something good on our vacation or our staycation, by the lake or by the sea, in the park or in the backyard. Personally, my favorite go-to place for reading in the summer is on my back porch, in the shade, with a glass of iced tea.

There are so many good books out there, old and new, but I'd like to share with you several which I've recently read and enjoyed:

• The Women (Kristin Hannah)  An excellent read, but not a light one. Vietnam Vets we're given anything but a hero's welcome returning home, but many Americans, including male veterans, denied that there were women serving in Vietnam as nurses and in other capacities. This book presents the horrors of the Vietnam War and the toll of PTSD along with the government's failure to support its female recruits.
• Before the Coffee Gets Cold (Toshikazu Kawaguchi) This is a different kind of time travel book. In a Tokyo cafe, a person can travel back (or forward) in time to meet someone, but whatever the person says or does will not change the course of events. It's interesting to see why someone wants to visit a certain time and with whom. Often, the time traveler ultimately finds some kind of closure and peace.
• The Boxcar Librarian (Brianna Labuskes) Big surprise, I enjoy reading books about libraries and librarians; I also enjoy historical fiction. This book, based on a true story, focuses on a Missoula librarian in the 1920s who has the idea of turning a train's boxcar into a library that travels to various mining camps around Montana.

Which books have you read lately and enjoyed? Share with us!

Wishing you great summer reads from the perch!

It's Time for Summer Reading Again!

The Summer Reading Program (SRP) is the Super Bowl for libraries. We plan for it months in advance, when snow is on the ground and the cold winds blow. When most readers are thinking about books accompanied by hot chocolate, we're choosing T-shirts and prizes for logging minutes read. We're planning fun programs and exciting activities for library patrons of all ages.

Despite all the thought and planning, it's always hard to believe it when the SRP is less than 2 weeks away! Yes, you read that right--LESS THAN 2 WEEKS AWAY, starting this year on SATURDAY, JUNE 7! Where does the time go? Well, it went somewhere, possibly to a galaxy far, far away or back a few months with a time-turner. 

Anyway, keep in mind that the SRP is for everyone, and we mean EVERYONE! Whether you're 1 month old or 100 years old, you can participate (reading to someone else counts, for the reader AND the listener; listening to audiobooks also counts). There's no age limit for reading. Additionally, there are no required subjects for reading. The main idea and purpose is to READ! Read anything you like just for the fun of it, no matter how silly or serious. JUST READ!

If you have kids or teens, don't tell them that they're avoiding the summer slide by doing the SRP and keeping up on their scholarly skills for the following school year. Let them have fun exploring things they enjoy. Don't worry if they're reading graphic novels (a cousin to traditional comics), Captain Underpants, or some supernatural teen romance. The bottom line--let them READ! 

Don't know what to read? Then stop by the front desk to talk to your friendly perch librarian or another helpful library staff member and we'll have plenty of book suggestions for you.

Happy summer reading from the perch!

Put Some "Njuta" in Your Life

I think I'm going to live in a Scandinavian country in my next life. Not only does Scandinavia offer universal healthcare and free childcare, they have good concepts that enrich everyday life. Take hygge, for instance, something popularized in the U.S. some years back with a number of books by Meik Wiking and others. The Danes have the right idea in creating coziness with some candles, warm socks, a book, and a cup of coffee or tea, among other things. 

More recently, I've been reading Niki Brantmark's Njuta, which addresses the Swedish concept of enjoyment or delight. Njuta is a very mindful thing, all about savoring and being in the moment, taking pleasure in the little things right before you. For example, if you're hiking in a forest, stop to lean against a tree and take everything in--the sight of the trees and vegetation, the fresh smell of pine needles, the feel of the breeze on your face, the sound of the birds and other animals. Or think of a barbecue--it may taste great at home, but imagine how much better it will taste after that hike in the forest.

Njuta, however, isn't just about enjoying the outdoors, but also the indoors, bringing a little of the outside to the inside. This can be done both at home or even at work. It's why I have a live succulent (which I've nicknamed "Spike") along with a pearly string of "happy lights" at the perch (in the winter, I put out some actual pinecones for atmosphere). It's also why I take short walks outside during my 10-minute breaks; it's something I look forward to doing and something that keeps me completely present (not to mention it's good for health reasons and for increasing productivity at work).

Scandinavians have some good ideas with njuta, hygge, and death cleaning (which isn't as morbid as it sounds). Luckily for the rest of us, they're sharing some of their secrets to the good life through books (a number of which you can access through our library in print and digital formats). Why not put some Scandinavian practices into your own life and make the most of your everyday?

Wishing you good njutning from the perch.

Books: Portals to Other Worlds

Many books offer an escape to different, imaginary worlds when you need a break from the real one. Books work magic, taking your mind off your day, your chores, the news, and whatnot; they relax and calm you, giving you something to think about other than worrisome things. There's no limit to where you can go and what you can do in the world of a book, and the good thing is, when the action becomes too intense, you can always close the cover and pick up reading where you left off at another time.

I'm sure many of us would like to visit an exciting location, but in case you're not sure where to armchair travel, here are some suggestions (and they're all series that are available in our library!):

• Outlander (Diana Gabaldon) Like historical fiction? Like time travel? How about a sprinkling of romance? Then this series about a time traveling World War II nurse who finds love in 1700s Scotland is for you.
• The Dark Tower (Stephen King) In post-apocalyptic Mid-World, the last gunslinger tries to save the powerful and magical Dark Tower, the heart of all worlds, from someone or something trying to destroy it.
• The Chronicles of Narnia (C.S. Lewis) During World War II, four siblings sent to shelter from London's air raids in the countryside enter a magical world where animals talk. And there's a witch and other villains just to make things more interesting.
• A Court of Thorns and Roses (Sarah J. Maas) Power, courts, and romance, oh my! Read what happens when a huntress unknowingly kills a wolf in a faerie realm and finds evil (and love) lurking in the land.
• Game of Thrones (George R.R. Martin) A number of noble houses in Westeros fight for the Iron Throne and the power it yields, while other houses seek independence from it. There are wars, alliances, betrayals, and more.
• Percy Jackson and the Olympians (Rick Riordan) Great for mythology lovers. Percy, a demigod, tries to prevent a war among Greek gods in the 21st century.
• Harry Potter (J.K. Rowling) An orphan boy discovers he's a wizard and goes to a school for magic while an evil wizard tries to kill him.
• The Lord of the Rings (J.R.R. Tolkien) A small hobbit in Middle Earth journeys to a forbidding land to destroy an enchanted ring before a dark lord wields power and destroys all that is good. Be sure to read Tolkien's The Hobbit first.

Needless to say, there are other series and stand alone books set in fantasy worlds with various beings of diverse talents. Which books are your portals to other worlds? Share with us!

Wishing you happy armchair travels to magical places from the perch.

Making Friends

How do adults make friends? That's a simple question with a difficult answer.

When we were kids, making new friends seemed to be a lot easier. "You wanna be my friend?" "You wanna play?" And that was all it took. As adults, however, making friends seems more complicated.

We spend a lot of our waking hours at work. With our few precious hours remaining, we may go home to care for children and other family members, or we may stay home to rest or do household chores. These scenarios are not the most conducive to meeting others and building friendships.

So, how do we make friends as adults? If we're lucky, we may perhaps make friends through our jobs, should they happen to be in-person. We might make friends through similar interests or life circumstances. Religious houses of worship, social groups (i.e., walkers' club, knitting club, book club), and children's playdates are some ways to meet other adults. Volunteering, sports clubs, and classes also present opportunities. Nowadays, there are clubs of various interests even on the internet, but as with anything online, do proceed with caution and don't share anything too personal.

Of course, libraries are great places to make friends as well. Storytime is perfect for kids and parents to meet others. So are programs, which can focus on anything from Legos to crafts. Programs often cater to kids, teens, or adults; some are for entire families. I realize I'm tooting our own horn, but libraries today, in addition to providing materials and information, truly serve as a kind of community center where people can gather together and build friendships.

What kind of programs would you like to see in our library to meet others? Share with us!

Inviting you to the library and wishing you new friendships from the perch.

A Thought On Libraries

"Without libraries, what do we have? We have no past and no future." 

Ray Bradbury (1920-2012)

American Author and Screenwriter