For years, especially when I was in school, reading was something I detested \u00ad\u2014 not necessarily the act of reading itself, but the fact that it always felt like an obligation and not a choice.<\/p>\n
Schools are pressuring kids to read, and while that\u2019s great, most students \u2014 teens and youngsters alike \u2014 have the childish mentality of not wanting to do something because they were told they needed to do it. Plus, with reading levels handed out that end up putting kids in a box that tells them what they can and cannot read, it makes it much harder for them to find something they may enjoy because their selection has been cut down exponentially. The freedom of being able to pick what they want to read is limited.<\/p>\n
One day, for a reason I cannot remember, I was browsing the young adult section at the Granby Library when a flash of blue caught my eye on one of the shelves. It was \u201cDaughter of Smoke and Bone\u201d by Lani Taylor. Now, I know we\u2019re all taught to never judge a book by its cover, but pretty covers are made for a reason: to draw readers in. This cover pulled me in. This book was the first in a trilogy, each book spanning roughly 400 pages, and was the first trilogy I managed to finish in a weekend. I can now finish a 400-page book in four hours if it manages to captivate me. My newfound love of reading helped plant the seeds from which my love of writing would grow. Within the last several years, both reading and writing have become overwhelming passions of mine.<\/p>\n
Students shouldn\u2019t be told what they can and cannot read, as there is no room for them to grow, nor is there the freedom they may need to actually find something they will enjoy. When I was in school, my reading level was rather low, and all the books within that level could never capture my interests. All of the more difficult books always kept pulling my attention.<\/p>\n
However, because I was put into a box that firmly outlined what I could and couldn\u2019t read, I was stuck. I wasn\u2019t reading like I was supposed to be, and my grades greatly suffered from it. But because I was able to have freedom at the library without the restrictions of a reading level holding me back, I managed to become engrossed in an entirely new world, and eventually many others followed. My love for reading got so bad that my teacher at the time, Ms. Gallagher, had to scold me for reading in class. Oops.<\/p>\n
I believe that if the reading levels were lifted, and if kids were given more freedom to decide what they wanted to read, more would be willing to read. And perhaps along the way, they may also find that they love writing, just as I have.<\/p>\n
Wednesday, Feb. 12<\/b><\/p>\n
Storytime \u2014<\/b> 10 a.m. at Granby Library. Storytime is a fun, interactive, early literacy program designed for children under the age of 5. For more info, call 970-887-2149.<\/p>\n
Great Decisions \u2013<\/b> 5:30 p.m. at Juniper Library in Grand Lake. Join us for America\u2019s largest discussion group on world affairs from the Foreign Policy Association. During this program, a different topic is discussed each week. Register for this free program at www.gcld.org.<\/p>\n
Thursday, Feb. 13<\/b><\/p>\n
Storytime \u2014<\/b> 10 a.m. at Fraser Valley Library. For more info, call 970-726-5689.<\/p>\n
Tech Training Classes \u2013<\/b> 10 a.m. at Granby Library. Let us help you learn to use your devices with ease. To register, call 970-887-2149.<\/p>\n
Meet the Experts Storytime: Let\u2019s Write \u2014<\/b> 10:15 & 11:15 a.m. at Kremmling Library. Storytime is a fun, interactive, early literacy program designed for children under the age of 5. At this special Storytime, we will focus on write, one of the five early literacy practices\u2014read, write, talk, sing, and play\u2014that help children develop the foundation for reading. For more info, call 970-724-9228.<\/p>\n
Storytime \u2014<\/b> 11 a.m. at Juniper Library in Grand Lake. For more info, call 970-627-8353.<\/p>\n
Brown Bag Book Group \u2014 <\/b>12:30 p.m. at Juniper Library in Grand Lake. More info at www.gcld.org.<\/p>\n
Afterschool Program<\/strong> \u2013 5 p.m. at Juniper Library in Grand Lake. Join us after school for crafts, activities, movies, games, and more! For more info, call 970-627-8353.<\/p>\n Saturday, Feb. 15<\/strong><\/p>\n Growing Readers Together Storytime<\/strong> \u2013 10:15 a.m. at Kremmling Library. Storytime is a fun, interactive, early literacy program designed for children under the age of 5. Presented thanks to a grant from Growing Readers Together. For more info, call 970-724-9228.<\/p>\n Monday, Feb. 17<\/strong><\/p>\n President\u2019s Day<\/strong> \u2013 All GCLD facilities CLOSED.<\/p>\n Tuesday, Feb. 18<\/strong><\/p>\n English Classes<\/strong> \u2013 10 a.m. at Kremmling Library. Participate in these free English as a Second Language classes. For more info, call 970-724-9228.<\/p>\n Tech Training Classes<\/strong> \u2013 10 a.m. at Granby Library. To register, call 970-887-2149.<\/p>\n Virtual Reality<\/strong> \u2013 4 p.m. at Kremmling Library. Virtual Reality is a new technology that\u2019s fun for gaming, creating music, or traveling to new worlds – all without leaving your library. Register at www.gcld.org.<\/p>\n Wednesday, Feb. 19<\/strong><\/p>\n Storytime<\/strong> \u2014 10 a.m. at Granby Library. For more info, call 970-887-2149.<\/p>\n Afterschool Club<\/strong> \u2013 3:45 p.m. at Fraser Valley Library. For more info, call 970-726-5689.<\/p>\n Family Movie Night<\/strong> \u2013 4:45 p.m. at Hot Sulphur Springs Library. Family Movie Night is open to all ages, and G or PG movies will be shown. No registration required. For more info, visit www.gcld.org.<\/p>\n Great Decisions<\/strong> \u2013 5:30 p.m. at Juniper Library in Grand Lake. Register for this free program at www.gcld.org.<\/p>\n Thursday, Feb. 20<\/strong><\/p>\n Storytime<\/strong> \u2014 10 a.m. at Fraser Valley Library. For more info, call 970-726-5689.<\/p>\n Tech Training Classes<\/strong> \u2013 10 a.m. at Granby Library. To register, call 970-887-2149.<\/p>\n Storytime<\/strong> \u2014 10:15 & 11:15 a.m. at Kremmling Library. For more info, call 970-724-9228.<\/p>\n Storytime<\/strong> \u2014 11 a.m. at Juniper Library in Grand Lake. For more info, call 970-627-8353.<\/p>\n Teen Craft Afternoon: String Art<\/strong> \u2013 4 p.m. at Kremmling Library. Join us for a fun afternoon with music and refreshments as we experiment with string art! 5th grade and up only, please. Register at www.gcld.org.<\/p>\n Afterschool Program<\/strong> \u2013 5 p.m. at Juniper Library in Grand Lake. For more info, call 970-627-8353.<\/p>\n Friday, Feb. 21<\/strong><\/p>\n LEGO @ the Library<\/strong> \u2013 1 p.m. at Granby Library. Bring your imagination and the Library will provide the LEGOs. Create! Share! Play! For more info, visit www.gcld.org.<\/p>\n Saturday, Feb. 22<\/strong><\/p>\n Growing Readers Together Storytime<\/strong> \u2013 10:15 a.m. at Kremmling Library. For more info, call 970-724-9228.<\/p>\n Young Adult Writer\u2019s Workshop<\/strong> \u2013 2 p.m. at the Kremmling Library. For ages 11-19. Register at www.gcld.org.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" For years, especially when I was in school, reading was something I detested \u00ad\u2014 not necessarily the act of reading itself, but the fact that it always felt like an obligation and not a choice. 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