Ten Sleep Library
From the Natrona County Library blog
By Jenn Beckstead, Teen Librarian
Natrona County Library
Reading is a crucial part of the everyday tasks of life. But if asked whether you and your family consider yourself readers, how would you answer? Are you reading for fun, to fill your free time, or to pursue your personal interests? Or do you read solely to fulfill work or school assignments?
Even those who triumphantly declare their love of novel pursuits may fall into unexpected reading slumps from time to time. So as you jump into the spring cleaning mode, make sure a visit to the Library is at the top of your to-do list. Dust off your library card and try these helpful hints.
Ask for suggestions
Chat with library staff about what you enjoy or dislike in the books you read. Use the NoveList Plus database to search for similar choices to what you love.
Change it up
Try a title that is new or different from what you might regularly choose to read. Browse the new releases, bestsellers, or recent award winner lists. Choose a format that works best for your circumstances or try one you’ve never read. Download an eBook, listen to an audio version, or read a magazine. Pick up a graphic novel or comic book.
Judge a book by the cover
Opt for a pick based exclusively on the book jacket. Challenge yourself and choose something with a cover you hate. You might be surprised by what you find inside.
Read it before you see it
Check out Becky Albertalli’s Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda (the movie title changed to Love, Simon) or Ready Player One by Ernest Cline before booking your theater seats. If you enjoy watching the silver screen from the comfort of your living room, first read Margaret Atwood’s classic The Handmaid’s Tale or The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf, the beloved picture book that inspired the recent animated movie.
Seasonal selections
March 14 is Pi Day (3.14) so grab a cookbook and treat yourself to a delicious homemade dessert. Sport fans, draft a new strategy. Try a biography or learn about the history of our favorite pastime. Create your own March Madness brackets, recruit other readers, and compete to choose your favorite book! If the cold, snowy spells have you dreaming of warmer weather, reach into the planting section and start plotting your summer garden.
Spring break
Whether you are taking a trip or planning a staycation, add reading to your agenda. It’s a perfect time to get lost in a new world, revisit an old favorite, cook a great meal, or learn a new skill. If you’ve discovered your current reading journey is a chore, the library is the perfect place to help you spring forward and turn your reading routine into an adventure.