Get Caught Reading In The Month Of May

by Jodi Vogler,  Asst. Branch Manager, Mid-Continent Public Library Grain Valley Branch
 

     Did you know that May is Get Caught Reading Month?  Established in 1999 by the Association of American Publishers, Get Caught Reading Month aims to promote the enjoyment of reading as a part of our daily lives. 
     Get Caught Reading Month is supported by the Lois Lenski Covey Foundation and Every Child a Reader.  You can find more information and fun resources at everychildareader.net.
     Your friendly neighborhood staff at the Mid-Continent Public Library – Grain Valley Branch want to support you throughout May as you make every effort to get caught reading everywhere you go.  Here are some helpful tips for this month (and the other 11 months, too!):
 
Always have a magazine tucked into your bag, backpack, or briefcase.
     Did you know that MCPL branches offer magazines for checkout?  Back issues of popular periodicals such as Forbes, Magnolia Journal, and others are available to check out just like books. 
     Take your selections to the front desk to check out, then drop them in our book return when you’re finished. 
     Not really one to carry a bag?  You can read digital editions of magazines using MCPL’s online resources, including RBdigital and Flipster, which are also available as apps for your phone or your tablet.
 
Is the news more your style?  Try PressReader.
     Like getting your national news each day, but can’t afford the subscriptions to the papers you enjoy?  We’ve got you covered.  You can read 2,000+ daily and weekly newspapers from all over the world through PressReader, another online resource from MCPL that is available as an app.  (And if you prefer our local news, we have hard copies of Valley News, too!)
 
Got littles?  Kids can get caught reading, too!
     Picture books are shaped funny for a reason -- those thin-yet-oversized picture books are the perfect size to slide into the backs of the seats in your car for road trips. 
     If your little digital native has a tablet or device for traveling, try the BookFlix and TumbleBooks apps using your library card.  These are specifically designed for kids and give your little one access to all the titles it will take to get to Grandma’s house and beyond. 
 
Listen to books anywhere with streaming audiobooks.
     Phones and tablets have made books even more accessible.  Using the OverDrive and Libby apps, you can download a complete audiobook and play it while you work, work out, or during that morning commute.  We’ll be glad to show you how to set up these resources on your device. 
 
Can’t get to the library for health reasons?  We can bring it to you.
     Mid-Continent Public Library offers a service we call Library-By-Mail for our customers who can’t physically get to the library.  With this program, residents can receive library books, movies, and music at no charge through the U.S. Postal Service.  Visit mymcpl.org/Library-By-Mail to learn more and sign up for this service.
 
Operating on a tight schedule?  Set a reading reminder on your phone.
     We are all cramming as much into our hours as possible, and reading is a great way to un-stuff our brains at the end of the day.  To make sure you’re always taking the time to read a few pages every day, try setting an alarm on your phone. 
     When you sit down to enjoy your book, start your phone’s stopwatch so you’ll know when it’s time to do something else.  (Or don’t.  We won’t judge.)
 
Create a reading nook for enjoying books at home.
     A designated reading spot complete with a cozy blanket, fluffy pillows, and your favorite novel can melt away the stress of the day.  Create your reading nook, then take ten minutes for yourself every night after dinner or before bed. 
     The reading spot is a great place to put a laundry basket for the kids to keep their library books in so they stay in one place.  You can use the basket as a book bag when you come to the branch to get more books!
     You don’t have to break up with your love of reading at the end of the month.  We want to make sure you have all the resources you need to keep enjoying the news, novels, and other reading materials you love throughout the year. 

     Stop by and see us at the Grain Valley Branch so we can find the perfect delivery method or app for you to get caught reading everywhere!