Looking for something to do at home? As much as the Wyoming State Library loves reading and writing, we know it’s nice to have variety. Here we’ve gathered resources for bookworms and writers of all ages, including a Harry Potter-themed escape room, reading and writing challenges, virtual book clubs, author readings, internet conferences, and more.
Virtual Activities
Is your house starting to feel like a cupboard under the stairs? Sydney Krawiec, Youth Services Librarian at Peters Township Public Library in McMurray, Pennsylvania created a Hogwarts Digital Escape Room for individuals or groups to enjoy. When you’re done and find yourself wanting to create your own escape room, follow this guide.
If you’re a modern writer, you’ve probably heard of NaNoWriMo, the National Novel Writing Month organization. You may have even heard of Camp NaNoWriMo, which occurs each year in April and July. Now, you can participate in StayHomeWriMo! According to the organization’s newest project, it’s “an initiative to support and encourage you to stay well and find comfort in creativity in these trying times.”
Bored of reading for fun or school and craving a bit of direction? Try the #Read20in20 Reading Challenge! Borrow.Read.Repeat describes their challenge as being “designed to help readers of all stripes — the occasional reader who wants to reach 20 books by the end of the year, the voracious reader who wants to read 20 books a month, the reader who wants to explore new genres, and the reader who wants new suggestions in a category he or she already loves.” You can even join the #Read20in20 Facebook Group to discuss the reads with fellow challengers.
Now is the perfect time to join a virtual book club. Tolstoy Together, Reese’s Book Club,and Dialogue Books are a few good examples of long-standing virtual groups, but you can find an online book club for just about any genre. If none of these clubs appeal to your tastes, invite your friends and family to start your own, then grab your library card and browse your Wyoming library’s RBDigital and cloudLibrary digital collections to get reading together!
Virtual Events
Catch up on all the YA social-distancing fun with this curated list by Epic Reads, including brand-new virtual content every Wednesday (on Twitter) and Friday (on Instagram).
Penguin Random House has compiled a list of virtual author Q&As, readings, and more. Tune in to online events to follow along live or visit this page to watch the finished recordings. Some of the on-going daily events include R. J. Palacio continuously reading her book Wonder each weekday on Twitter at 10 a.m. MDT, Rachel Cargle reading picture books each weekday on Instagram at 1 p.m. MDT, and 30 days of journal-writing prompts by Suleika Jaouad. Click here for this week’s compilation and calendar.
Other frequent online events include author live-streams from Denver’s Tattered Cover Bookstore, sonnets read by beloved actors, two upcoming virtual conferences — Wordplay and Virtual Con — for authors, readers, and writers.
Have you found a fun or educational at-home activity our libraries would want to know about? Comment below!