Name Your Game

The library has board games? Yes, we do! When was the last time you played a "retro game," one that doesn't require a computer, a TV, a game console, or even electric? You know, games you may have played while growing up, like Checkers, Chess, Monopoly, Life, Chutes and Ladders, Candy Land, Battleship, Yahtzee, Sorry, etc. Am I ringing any bells? Maybe some of us have good childhood memories playing those games with our siblings or the whole family together.

Sure, video games (which can also be checked out from the library) are fun and popular today among kids and kids at heart, but there are a lot of good things about board games:

• Unplugging.  Take a break from your phone and other electronic devices. The only thing that should be plugged in is a lamp.
• Togetherness.  Board games require a minimum of 2 people to play, unlike many video games which only need 1 player. Board games give us a good excuse to spend time with friends and family.
• Socializing.  Being together allows us to talk, something that's especially good for kids who can boost their language skills in a non-academic, informal setting.
• Focusing.  The Internet is great for so many things, but lengthening our attention span isn't one of them. Board games force us to focus and think.
• Soothing.  When we're focusing on the game, we forget about work, school, and other things. We relax and feel less anxious.
• Losing.  No one likes losing, but board games teach all of us how to be good losers. We all lose and are disappointed at one time or another, but we also relish working towards a win and succeeding.
• Fun!  Board games are just plain fun, and so many of us get caught up in the stresses of life that we often forget how to just let go. Playtime is important not just for kids, but for teens and adults as well.

So come on over to the library, and besides checking out books, DVDs, and whatnot, check out a board game! We got the classic games you know and newer ones you may not. Perhaps start a game night once a week with your family, or give yourself and your friends something to do on the weekends as the weather gets cooler. And did I mention that board games, as everything else in our library, check out for free??

Wishing you happy board gaming from the perch.

The Book First? Or the Movie?

I recently saw the film adaptation of Where the Crawdads Sing, and I confess that I didn't read the book before watching the movie. Yes, I know it's a popular book, and the reason why I didn't rush to read it is I'm not a big fan of courtroom dramas. So when the movie came out, I thought I'd get an idea of what all the fuss over the book was about.

I admit that even as a librarian, I'll occasionally watch the movie before I read the book. Sometimes the movie will sell me on a book that doesn't immediately grab me. That was the case with The Light Between Oceans, a bestselling book when it was first published. Watching the movie made me want to read the book and get more details of the story. I believe film adaptations have the power to create interest in reading the books on which they were based.

Similarly, books have the power to draw readers to film adaptations. Which fan of Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings didn't want to see Peter Jackson's movies when they first came out in the cinema? I remember sitting in a packed theater on opening weekend with other moviegoers who were also there because they wanted to see Middle Earth and its characters brought to life on the screen. Many readers want to re-live their favorite literary experiences through film and compare their vision to that of others.

Let's face it--books sell their film adaptations, and film adaptations sell books. It's a cycle that's been going on for decades, and I'm sure you've probably watched a movie because of a book or read a book because of a movie. As for myself, I just may read Delia Owens' bestseller because of its intriguing film adaptation. Which movies have sold you on a book and vice versa? Share with us!

Wishing you good reads and good movie-watching from the perch.

Favorite Reading Days

Do you have a favorite day for reading? Maybe it's the day of the week? A rainy day? A sunny day? A fall, winter, spring, or summer day?

In the fall, I love reading on rainy days. There's no better feeling than snuggling into the sofa with a good book, savoring a good cup of tea, and listening to the rain beating against the window. If the wind is howling, even better. Sometimes, I may swap out my tea with spiced cider to go along with my read.

Winter is great for reading indoors during those snowy days and cold nights. I like wrapping myself in a throw blanket in front of the fireplace, staying warm and cozy with a book, and having a cup of tea (or a hot chocolate) as the snow is falling. Many of my winter evenings are spent in bed reading my Kindle on dark mode.

Like fall, spring with its rain is ideal for reading. I while away a number of spring mornings at my kitchen table with a book and (you guessed it) a cup of tea, looking out the window periodically at the leaves sprouting on the trees. As the season progresses, I'll open the sliding door onto my back porch to let in some fresh air as I read.

Summer is the time of year when I take my reading outdoors. I'm often on my back porch in the shade with a book and my feet up on an opposite chair. If it's exceptionally hot, I'll sip on an iced tea as I read. On really lazy summer weekends, I'll read outside in a hammock and enjoy the warm, gentle breezes along with my book.

I suppose for me, no matter the season, every day is a good day for reading, especially when it's accompanied by a good cup of tea or other agreeable beverage. What about you? Tell us about your favorite day(s) for reading!

Wishing you numerous days of good reading from the perch.

Strike Up the Banned

Banned Books Week (September 18-24) is here, the week libraries around the U.S. bring attention to books that have been banned or challenged. Occasionally we hear on the news about communities displeased that their local library houses certain books that may address subjects such as religion, sexuality, profanity, violence, or other hot button topics. Some people even go as far as asking that books they deem offensive be removed or "banned" from the library so no one can obtain them.

There is a saying that every good library has something to offend everyone (including librarians). As a reader, I may not like or agree with the perspectives presented in every book in the library, but as a librarian, it is my job to help library patrons find the books or information they are seeking. It is not my place to judge what you are looking for or to keep information from you.

The U.S. is built on the key principle of freedom. That includes the freedom to access information and read whatever you like. You also have the freedom NOT to read something you don't like. When we go down the dangerous road of banning books from libraries, we enter the realm of censorship, which is a restriction of freedom. Sadly, there are libraries in other parts of the world that do censor information because of national laws and politics.

We have reason to be grateful for living in a nation where libraries are free to offer all kinds of information and lend books to everyone. We don't need to fear torture or imprisonment for reading something. What we do need to fear is any threat to our freedom of accessing reading materials. A free and healthy society is one in which its people are respectful and tolerant of various views expressed in literature, even though some of those views may be contrary to their own.

Helpfully and respectfully yours from the perch.

Reading Year-Round!

Reading doesn't have to end just because the summer is ending! So many of you--kids, teens, and adults--have been enjoying the Summer Reading Program, getting prizes, and breaking our all-time record for minutes spent reading (over 501,000!). But having fun reading can continue throughout the year for those of all ages.

How do we do that? Here are some of my suggestions:

• Make reading part of your everyday routine.  You don't have to read for a long time--even 10 to 20 minutes at the start of your day or the end of it is good. You work eating, sleeping, exercising into your schedule; work in some reading as well.

• Read what you like.  Don't force yourself to read things you think you should be reading. Read whatever tickles your fancy. Who cares if it's graphic novels, romances, or paranormal teen books. Choose things you look forward to reading.

• Be a reading model.  I'm not talking about posing for photos. If you want your kids to read more, have them see you reading. Kids are notorious for copying adults, and they won't pick up the reading habit if they can't copy it from you.

• Make reading family time.  Whether you have younger kids or older kids, why not set a time once a week when the family comes together for reading? Have one person read aloud to everyone, or have everyone read silently to themselves in the same room. Reading loves company!

• Join or make your own book club.  Discuss a book with a friend over tea. Participate in an online or in-person book club. Small group or large, informal or formal, talking about what you read with others can further your enjoyment of reading.

For me, reading is like breathing. I can't imagine a day going by when I don't read at least a few pages. I don't consider myself a morning person, but each day I get up earlier than I need to have at least 20 minutes for reading with a cup of tea to put myself in a good mood. I often read for a few minutes while I have my lunch. And in the evening, I read for at least a half hour in bed to quiet my brain away from screens before sleeping. I read books that coincide with my mood and current interests. The bottom line--reading makes me feel whole and gives me different things to think about at any time and any season. Hopefully, reading does similar things for you.

Wishing you a wonderful year of reading from the perch.

Library, Sweet Library

Library lovers--do you gravitate to the mother ship when you travel? You know what I'm talking about. You're away on vacation, you're taking in the surroundings, and you're drawn to...the local library. It's a bit of the familiar in an otherwise unfamiliar place. The building may look different, but the smell of books and the sight of friendly, welcoming faces ready to help makes you think of your home library, doesn't it?

I recently visited Forks, Washington (yes, THAT Forks, the one featured in Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series)--leave it to a perch librarian to visit a literary place on her time off from work! In my defense, it's difficult to avoid the library in Forks since it's right on the main street going through town along with the Native to Twilight store, the Thriftway, and Bella's truck. Even so, I couldn't help shouting out (and freaking my husband) when I saw the same Summer Reading Program banner outside a library over 400 miles away from my own.

I couldn't help thinking how great it is that readers across the state, even across the country, are in a sense connected through summer reading programs at their libraries. They're all reading, logging minutes, and collecting prizes. They're participating in related activities, enjoying summer reading parties, and having fun! What can be better?

Feel empowered knowing that you are part of a widespread summer reading community! What happens at one library often happens at other libraries. Keep reading, whether you're at home or on the road. And in case you were wondering--I was reading New Moon during a new moon in Forks.

Wishing you good literary travels (physical or mental) from the perch.

The Library Dragons!

They're protectors of the knight. They're celebrities with the kids. They're...The Library Dragons! WooHOO! There are two dragons (and one dinosaur): Duncan and Donut (and Munchkin). They all love books and learning, but they have distinct personalities.

Duncan, the green dragon, is the biggest one, and he thinks he's in charge because of his size. That doesn't make him mean, however. He's actually quite protective of Donut and Munchkin, who are both small. He's really excited that a book, Duncan the Story Dragon, has been written about him and that you can get this book at the library.

Donut, the red dragon, is Duncan's trusty sidekick. Despite being smaller, he thinks he can do anything Duncan can (and he usually succeeds). When Duncan needs a break from his duties at the library, Donut is more than happy to step in. He's excited that Duncan got a book published, but he's hoping to get his own book sometime.

Munchkin, is not a dragon but a blue dinosaur who thinks he's a dragon because he wants to be cool like Duncan and Donut. He's rather shy, so you don't see him as much as you see Duncan and Donut. He likes hanging out in the back of the library where it's more quiet, but sometimes he comes out to see what's happening in the front. Although he prefers being left out of the spotlight, Munchkin is willing to help Duncan and Donut whenever he's needed.

For most of the year you can see Duncan and Donut protecting our knight behind the perch. Sometimes, though, during the summer, Duncan and Donut like taking turns hiding around the library in different spots and seeing if kids can find them. Munchkin spends most of his time in the back reading, but one summer he just might take a turn at playing hide and seek.

Next time you're in the library, don't forget The Library Dragons. Be sure to give a nod to Duncan and Donut and pass on a hello to Munchkin.

Ever bookishly yours from the perch.

(Updated from September 4, 2015.)