How to Get Involved
There are many ways to promote reading, books, and libraries for the young people in our communities. Below are some ideas.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on other ways to make a difference!
READ AT HOME
The first way to promote reading and libraries in your community begins at home. Do children live with you or come to visit? Grandchildren? Nieces and nephews? Neighborhood kids? Build your own little library for them! This can be very simple and inexpensive. A small bookcase will do, or a large basket of books. Build your own library of favorites, or go the library and pick out some books before their next visit. Create a special little ‘space’ if you can for reading. A little reading nook with a small chair, beanbag or pillows. The idea is that this is a special and cozy space.
Make reading time with you a special event that they ‘get to do’ when they visit. Click this link for more tips on how to create your own little library at home.
GO TO THE LIBRARY
Bring your kids to the library. As soon as kids are old enough to behave in a public space, you can bring them personally to the library. Show them where the books are for kids their age and let them pick out some of their own. Even on vacation or in cities other than your own, you can bring them to the local library – they will learn that libraries are available all over, and they may even enjoy checking out what other libraries look like. Libraries usually have methods to allow out-of-towners to check out books so don’t worry about that.
HELP YOUR CHILD CREATE A LIBRARY OF THEIR OWN
Most young children do not have a library of their own. I’ve recently realized just what a shame that is. On the last day of volunteer reading for my local elementary school, I asked each of my kids (that I had been reading with the whole year) if they planned to read over the summer. And the answer sadly was no, mostly because they had no library of their own. It is my strong conviction that if these kids did have a small library of favorites at home, they would read books over the summer. And they would want to collect more books for their library.
Helping a child curate their own personal library of books could be a huge, life altering benefit to them. Not only would the children gain all the benefits of reading, but they would also be nurturing their own appetite and appreciation for books and learning.
BECOME A COMMUNITY READER
Volunteering as a reader in your local community can be incredibly rewarding. Every community has different programs for volunteering in the local school system and the local libraries. There may be other opportunities to volunteer in local shelters and childrens’ homes as well .
I will be writing more about the different ways to be a childrens’ book and reading advocate in our communities. For now, I would love to hear from you about opportunities you have discovered. Please contact me and let me know your ideas about how we can all serve our local communities.
SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL “LITTLE FREE LIBRARY”
Support your local “Little Free Librarys” with childrens’ books. Also, as your children get older and your personal library grows, you can donate the books that don’t suit your child’s age to your local Little Free Library. It can be fun to put a little personal note in the book too. Click here to find a Little Free Library near you.
