Teens & Reading

Teens & Reading

Some teenagers like to read. Others don’t. It’s that simple. Or is it?

As adults, we know that reading is important and we obviously want to make sure that the teenagers in our lives grow into adulthood with all the skills they need to succeed. But how can we encourage them…safely?

Before we list ways to encourage teen reading that may work, here are a few tactics that likely will not.

Try to avoid…

• Pressuring, nagging, or bribing. Encourage, don't hound.
• Criticizing what they choose to read. Forbid as little as possible- accept differences of opinion.
• Lavishing too much praise. Show interest, but don't make a big deal out of it. They'll see right through you.

Ways to encourage teens to read...

• Set an example. Let teens see you reading for pleasure.
• Make reading materials available. Leave books, magazines, and newspapers around.
• Acknowledge their mature interests. Suggest some adult reading you think they can handle or that may interest them.

What can teens get out of reading? They have to get something out of it, right? Through reading they can:

• Become an expert. An expert on any subject they like—from sports statistics to spelunking, coins to carburetors, ballerinas to barbecues, or anything in between.
• Live dangerously. Through reading teens can share the challenges, fears, thrills, and achievements of those they are reading about - without the risk.
• Have a few laughs. Many teens will enjoy sitting down with a book by their favorite comedian or a collection of jokes or cartoons.
• See the world. Without leaving town, teens can visit places that fascinate them.
• Travel through time. Historical fiction and science fiction can move a reader back and forth in time.
• Use their brains. Teens may enjoy solving a mystery, outwitting a crafty villain, or thinking through a perilous situation.
• Get some free advice. Lots of novels feature teenage characters that have problems and pressures common to many teens, believe it or not.
• Discover new interests. Through reading, teens may develop an interest in something they knew nothing about before.
• Find a cause. Teens can get smart on an issue that matters to them.
• Escape. Teens can escape noise, tension, or boredom by escaping into a book.

Teen Read Week is October 18-24, 2015. The purpose of Teen Read Week, created in 1998, is to encourage teens to be regular readers and library users.

In recognition of Teen Read Week, the Independence Public Library is hosting an after-hours Teen Read-In for those students in 6^th grade and up. Activities will include mish-mash book skits, telling ghost stories, book character charades, scavenger hunts, building forts, reading, snacks, and more! Join us after hours from 7:00-10:00 pm. The event is free. Please call the library to sign up @ 319-334-2470.

CodeRED!

Monday was quite a day for the wind and rain here in Independence, but with summer not even half over, I'm sure less than perfect weather will make another appearance before the leaves turn. So remember to brush up on your severe weather plans and keep informed. If you're not sure how to prepare for tornadoes, floods, or other natural disasters; checkout some of these great resources from www.ready.gov for Severe Weather. And to stay informed in Buchanan County, sign up for CodeRED. (This link takes you directly to the sign up page for Buchanan County) You can also find the link to CodeRED on the Buchanan County Website and the City of Independence Website. If you live outside of Buchanan County, be sure to check your local government websites to sign up for their emergency alert systems.

Writer's Showcase!

Join the Independence Public Library to honor the winners of the Northeast Iowa Reading Council Creative Writing and Poetry Contest. The Writers Showcase will begin at 6:30 PM in the Community Room, and will feature winning students from Independence and St. John's grades K-12

Memoir Writing

There are a lot of reasons to write a memoir, or autobiography, not the least of which is the possibility that details of events will be forgotten or changed over time, the line between fact and memory becoming less distinct as the years go by.

Memories pile up year after year like boxes of unsorted photos. A few of the benefits of writing your memoirs include:

1. Storytelling is a lovely life-skill. Once you get the knack of telling stories about yourself, you’ll learn to organize and communicate all your thoughts more clearly.
   
   
2. Writing about your life lets you share ideas and lessons. Your knowledge and wisdom can help others grow along with you. Writing forces us to think and rethink about our past and present surroundings, the people around us, relationships, and occasions that seemed ordinary at the time, but make our lives extraordinary.
   
   
3. Writing about your life helps dissolve the hard knots of loss, betrayal, regret, and guilt that keep you stuck in the past despite your best efforts to forget. It causes you to record certain events or dramas in your life that may be of value to others.
   
   
4. Writing is a challenging mental activity, and research shows that challenging yourself mentally improves your mental agility and stamina. And, you will be describing – or perhaps explaining – things the way you want them to be recorded.
   
   
5. In a crowd of people it’s natural to wonder “Why should anyone read about my life?” And that’s the best reason to write it. As you sort out the details of your actual path, and look for what makes your journey worth reading, you will incidentally also reveal what makes it worth living. You are providing evidence of aspects of your life that individually will be useful and interesting to your readers, but collectively, will be useful to history.
   
   
6. You can take Jacquie McTaggart’s workshop, The Memoir Project, for free at the library! The first class was this morning, but there are five more workshops that meet Monday morning at 10:00-11:30 am through May 11. This is Jacquie’s third time leading the class at IPL. It is free thanks to the Independence Hotel/Motel Tax Grant. All sessions are self-contained, so no worries if you miss a class.

TIPLINE: Metafiction

The Independence Public Library's Interesting Nuggets of Exploration: Metafiction

The 5-5-5 Reading Challenge has taken off and many of us are finishing up our first Genre. If you've already got your first Genre in the bag, be sure to stop in at the library to pick up your first prize. If you're looking for a Genre to dig into, try Metafiction.
What's Metafiction? Well, it's fiction...about fiction,...or writing fiction,...or living in fiction,...or something else fiction related. It's complicated, but it's fun. If you want a definition that is a little more exact try Dictionary.com they define Metafiction as "fiction that discusses, describes, or analyzes a work of fiction or the conventions of fiction."
Metafiction is more common than you might think, you may have already read some metafiction. Mo Willems' "We Are In A Book" is metafiction, and so is Jodi Picoult's "Between The Lines." Even some of the newer fiction at the library is metafiction, like "The Thirteenth Tale" by Diane Setterfield and "The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry" by Gabrielle Zevin. There are plenty more, you can find a short list by going to the 5-5-5 Reading Challenge's Genres Page, and clicking on the Metafiction Page. If you know of a book that fits the bill at the IPL, and isn't listed, feel free to add it. Just double click and type in the title and author. You can also add books to the other genre pages, just double click and type.

Using The Library At A Distance

With winter finally making an appearance in Iowa, you might find it a little harder to get to the library, or maybe you just don't want to brave the cold. Either way, you can still use the library from home with NEIBORS and Zinio.
With NEIBORS you can check out digital audio books and e-books 24 hours a day from anywhere you have an internet connection. You can sign in through the IPL website, using your library card number and password (usually your phone number). There is even an app available for android and apple devices called the Overdrive Media Console. Install the app and you can have books and audio books on your phone or tablet anywhere you go.
If you would rather read magazines, give Zinio a try. This service lets you download and read digital issues from over 50 magazines. There's no limit to how many you can checkout, and there are never any due dates or late fees. Set up your account with the IPL's access key (call or visit the library to get the access key) and simply checkout the issues you want to read. Zinio also has an app for android and apple devices.
Click the links above for more information and downloadable tip sheets. And of course, if you have any questions feel free to call the library at 334-2470.

More Zen Doodle!

If you missed the first Zen Doodle Workshop, or want to give it a try again, mark your calendars for November 22nd! The IPL will be holding another open workshop next Saturday from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM, no registration  is required and all the supplies you need will be provided. The workshop is open to all ages, but is best suited for those 12 and up, so be sure to stop in and create with the Independence Public Library.