resolving to read

When the clock struck midnight on December 31st, people around the world undoubtedly made resolutions of all kinds. All around the internet you’ll find articles and lists of ways to help you keep your promise to get healthy, de-clutter your home or improve your life in one way or another. If you’re resolving to read more in 2017, we’ve got your secret weapons: the library and OverDrive.

For people who have decided to start reading more it can be difficult to know where to begin. That’s where librarians come in. Reaching out to your library is a great way to get a book recommendation. Librarians can offer you suggestions based on books you’ve read in the past, television shows or movies you like or activities you’re interested in. Not sure how to reach out to your library? Send us a tweet or an email and we’ll offer you some recommendations!

Join a club!
Often times, people stop reading because it can be a very isolating activity. While we love the ability to lose ourselves in a new book, enjoying the experience with others is a great way to stay motivated to keep diving into books. This is why book clubs are so popular. They let you share your thoughts on a book with others who have read it as well (Not to mention that snacks and wine are often involved). Libraries frequently set up book clubs both at their physical locations and digitally by utilizing their OverDrive collection. OverDrive holds our own, worldwide eBook club several times a year called the Big Library Read that lets you be a part of a global reading community.

Variety is the spice of life
When people ask me what kinds of books I read I reply, “good ones”. I used to stick to specific genres but I found myself getting in a rut because the books could blend together. Now, I try to switch up genres with every book I read. It keeps my brain from being able to guess what will happen with the plot and I am constantly discovering different kinds of characters. The library’s OverDrive site makes this easy to do as finding new genres is as simple as searching for “historical fiction” or “Mystery”.

Read on the Go
Another reason people tend to let their resolution to read more slip is because they, “don’t have time to read.” Digital audiobooks remove that excuse as you can access your favorite books with nothing more than your phone and a pair of headphones. In fact, you can use audiobooks to hit two resolutions. Listening to a great audiobook is a great way to power through those ardous runs or workouts on your path to a healthier life. I also use audiobooks to pass the time while sitting in traffic or when I’m doing chores. Thanks to digital audiobooks from the library, I can be reading even when I don’t have time to sit down with a book.

It’s no secret that most people abandon their resolutions after a few weeks or months but thanks the library, you can spend all year reading and listening to books no matter how busy you are. With so many wonderful books coming out this year, there has never been a better time to #ResolveToRead.