THE RILEY CITY LIBRARY

February finally resembles the Februaries I remember: Snow and lots of it! Perfect reading weather!

My kids loved the snow! They would build forts and lob snow balls at each other, sled  down the slope behind our house, and skate the frozen creek.  After tending to their livestock they would hit the house rosy-cheeked and tired.  After a cup of steaming hot-chocolate they would  find a good book and read.  How did I get them to do that?  We had a no daytime TV rule, and the computer was for homework, and my husband and I both read for enjoyment….we still do, and so do my adult children.

I often get asked how do I get my kids to read?  Well I’ll be quite blunt, kids learn from example.  If you read as a family activity kids will learn to love it too: If you don’t read and their friends don’t either, chances are they never will learn to love it and only read as they must.

Out-door play even when it’s cold uses  un-spent energy, can be  good fun and a great  stress reliever.  The tranquil  beauty of a new  snowfall is a perfect time to try a winter walk yourself and see what I mean.  It has a calming effect and rejuvenates  at the same time, and once  inside, down time is a perfect time  to  READ a book. Computer social networking sites and TV games  can eat up  free time if you let it.   Try setting a family  reading hour before  or after other activities and not just at bedtime, but if reading  becomes a chore or a must-do-thing….kids woun’t enjoy it and you won’t either.

For those hot NEW reads I mentioned,  kids books include ”Gingersnap’ by Patricia Reiliy” (ages 8-9): For kids a bit older; ”Navigating Early” by Clare Vanderpool; “The One and Only Ivan” by Katherine Applegate; and a new book on “Amelia Earhart” by Robin S. Dork.

Some of the NEW books for adults include “The Time Keeper” by Mitch Albom; “Me Before You” by Jojo Moyes; the newest from David Baldacci, ”The Forgotten”;  and in honor of President’s Day “Mrs. Lincoln’s Dressmaker” by Jennifer Chiaverini

If there are books you or authors you would like to see us shelve  here at RCL, please let me know as I am  now adding more new books to our collection.

Come in and find something “hot” to read  while waiting out this cold winter weather.  See ya soon! Riley City Library

February  is usually a great time to snuggle up with a good book and wait out the rest of the winter.  Nothing sounds better than to see  big lazy snowflakes slowly falling while  wrapped-up in a blanket  reading  a heart-warming  love story.  The reality of this February is that the weather is rather mild and, my husband has read the newest seed catalog and has now tilled the garden.   But as I remind him it is still winter, and we might get more coldish weather and snow!  Maybe.

I say there is still time to read! Whether it be with a Kindle or a Nook or and old fashioned book . It is FEBRUARY, and there is still time to read!

For those of us who might like to read-away the month we have many good romances including Margaret Michell’s “Gone with the Wind”, and Jan-Philipp Sendker’s “The Art of Hearing Heartbeats”.  and  the whole “Twilight” series by Stephenie Meyer.   There is quite a lot of “just  feel good fiction” such as David Balacci’s “Wish You Well” and “Sarah’s Key” by Tatiana De Rosnay, and John Grisham’s “A Painted House”, and more.

I’ve  have been busy ordering newly released books and they should be here soon, but if you need a book we don’t have I can inter-library-loan it for you.  Also I’m still shelving movies as we get them so there are more DVDs to choose from, and for all you computer users the library does now have “high speed” Internet service and four patron’s computers for your convenience.

The one question I get asked more than any other is “when is the new library going to be finished”  Truthfully this has been the hardest question to answer.  I had hoped we would be in it by now, but we are not, and now look for a move maybe this summer.  It won’t be exactly easy as the things we need last are the books while  our book cases and furniture need to be moved first and right now they are occupied. When the time comes we may need the whole community to help.

That’s all for now…come in and check us out! And happy Valentines Day from Riley City Lirary