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| Hot Reads for Cold Nights |
Our Hot Reads for Cold
Nights program has always held a special place in my heart. After 15 years, I still don't know if it's
seeing adults reading like crazy so they can win prizes, or that we actually
get to hand out prizes to adults instead of children. In any case, to mark our 100th year of
service, we've decided to change our ways.
I know the old adage that says "if something ain't broke, don't fix
it" but this isn't a fix, it's an addition to the same great program. We've made it bigger and, of course, much
better. All thanks to our fantastic
Friends of Virginia Public Library.
Of course, the more you
read, the more you can win, just like always.
But this year we've bumped up the prizes and decided to focus on our
local business community. Our Friends
are going to "buy local" and provide you with the opportunity to win
gift certificates for gifts and services right here in our community. We will release more details as the program
continues, but for now, I'm going to tease you by saying that they are going to
spend HUNDREDS of dollars in our community to encourage you to read. Isn't that great?!?
BTW, our biggest question at this time of
year? Why are we working so hard to
encourage adults to read? Well, the short version of all those studies points
to the simple fact that our brains work differently when we are reading. And unlike watching television -- in which
the Oct. 2012 issue of the British Journal of Sports Medicine sadly reported
that "every single hour of television watched after the age of 25 reduces
the viewer's life expectancy by 21.8 minutes" -- reading can actually help
you live longer. To put it bluntly, your
brain needs exercise no matter what your age.
So, if you are over 18, join us in our
efforts to promote reading. Sign up in
the library or online for our Hot Reads for Cold
Nights reading program and warm up with a great book from your local
library. Think of it as a fitness
program for your brain. You'll be glad
you did. After all, just think how much longer you'll live!
Dawn -- Public Services Librarian
