14th Annual Librarians Read Challenge

December 29, 2011

The New Year not only marks the chance to start over again, but it also gives librarians a chance to try new reading material that they may have overlooked from the past year. From the 1st of January to the 1st of March, the 14th annual Librarians Read Challenge takes place at MCPL. It’s a challenge for librarians to read juvenile and young adult material. The purpose of the challenge is to strengthen our reader’s advisory skills and to introduce new authors and stories to librarians who may never venture into these wonderful sections of the library. It is on a volunteer basis, and it is up to the librarians to choose what they want to read.

I am looking forward to the challenge, but for different reasons listed above. After a marathon reading session that took place right before Thanksgiving, I fell into that much dreaded reading rut. It was so bad, it had me questioning if my passion for reading was a passing fad. It also didn’t help that all my big title book holds came in all at once. I tried reading the books that have been voted the best books of 2011, but to no avail. The rut threatened to stifle my only true peace. The spark of hope came while I was sitting in a Reader’s Advisory workshop, and the facilitator commented that reading young adult novels helped to bring her out of her reading ruts. Was there hope for me, I wondered? It was the first of December, exactly one month away from the Librarians Read Challenge. I began the countdown and started collecting the YA books that I have been "meaning to read." Now that the holidays are over, I feel I can finally devote myself to a book.

So if you have been struggling with a reading rut and need some relaxation from the holiday craze, try your own challenge. Pick up a juvenile or young adult book that you have heard about. The Hunger Games movie is scheduled for release in March, read the book first. Also, the teen sci-fi classic Ender’s Game is being made into a movie; try that as well. Good luck and happy reading!

Crystal M-S