Beyond Books: Love Your Library This Winter!
Ask any reader about their favorite way to spend a cold wintry day, and they’ll probably say something about a good book, a cozy spot, and a cup of something warm. We’ve had plenty of those chilly days this month, and as we wrap up our first Winter Reading Challenge, I can see that many of you took advantage of those days to get reading! The Winter Reading Challenge started Jan. 1, and if you haven’t logged all of your reading minutes, you still have until Jan. 31 to do so. As of last week, we were approaching 40,000 reading minutes logged as a community! This year’s program, All the Feels, was also a chance to learn about the history of emojis and think about emotions in a mindful way. You can check it out at CRCPL.org/winter.
If you’re looking for a good book to finish out your month, check out the American Library Association’s Facebook page at 9 a.m. Monday. They’ll be live-streaming the Youth Media Awards announcements, including this year’s Newbery, Caldecott, Printz, and Coretta Scott King Book Awards.
Moving into February, we have even more to celebrate! February is National Library Lovers Month. Books really are just the tip of the library iceberg though. You can also borrow and stream movies, download music, reserve a meeting room, or check out a musical instrument (or an instrument-shaped cake pan!), all for free with your library card. We also have a full calendar of free activities for all ages. If you want to learn something new, meet new people, or just get out of the house, there is something for you. Our event calendar is at CRCPL.org/events. You can also visit our Northside Branch to see artwork by local artist Betsy Parker all month.
There’s so much to love at Chillicothe and Ross County Public Library. We want to hear from you! Every location will have a special display where you can leave a little note to let everyone know what you love about your library. We’ll also have an adorable trio of vinyl stickers available for purchase if you want to show the world how much the library means to you. (Or if you just can’t live without that cute little bookworm with the winter set and glasses. We understand.)
It’s still several months away, but wrapping up the Winter Reading Challenge has me thinking about Bookworm. Library staff are already working on plans for a summer full of reading goals and fun activities and events. Our theme this year is “All Together Now,” and explores various ways that reading and libraries can bring people together.
See you at the library!
Enrichment Services Manager Liz Gibbons-Camp loves to spend winter afternoons curled up with a good book, some tea, and a cat, preferably after a morning of playing in the snow. She’ll also talk your ear off about the library and library programs if you let her. You can reach her at egibbonscamp@crcpl.org
This article originally appeared on Chillicothe Gazette: Beyond Books: Love Your Library This Winter!
