Library launches Adult Reading Challenge

By Ken Kellar
Staff writer
kkellar@fortfrances.com

The Fort Frances Public Library Technology Centre (FFPLTC) is offering you the chance to win great prizes, and all it will take it expanding your literary horizons.

A new program, the Adult Reading Challenge, was launched at the library at the beginning of September and will run through to the end of January 2023, offering patrons the opportunity to complete a special reading list to be entered for prizes, including a Samsung Galaxy Tab A8, a 1-year Fine-Free Library Membership or a $50 Indigo Gift Card.

Participating in the reading challenge is easy: to sign up, visit the Library in-person for a Reading Log and entry form, or download one from the Library’s website. After that, explained FFPLTC’s Adult Services Clerk Nadine Cousineau, get to reading.

“It’s a challenge for adults ages 16+ to try to challenge people to try new books, authors and genres,” Cousineau said.

“The idea is you have to read six books in six different categories within six months. Then on February 1, we’re going to have a draw for three prizes.”

The challenge is riffing a bit off of a 12-12-12 reading challenge run in Toronto, but the local version is a bit scaled down for a first, new attempt. The challenge will also hopefully bring in new library patrons along with exposing current patrons to new materials.

“We’re always trying to do things to drive up circulation,” Cousineau said.

“It’s just something fun for adults to try this fall and winter. Of course, for some patrons it will be really easy; we have some patrons who read six books in one month, but the idea is to challenge some people who may not read that much.”

There are some strings attached to the challenge, of course. Each of the books read for the challenge have to be checked out from the library or one of its associated programs like the Libby app, which means physical books, e-books and audiobooks are all accepted for the challenge. No bringing in books from home, Cousineau said.

Another wrinkle in the challenge is that each book must be chosen from a general list of categories. There are ten categories in total, and each category can only be chosen once. Some examples of the included categories are “a book set in the future,” “a book with a one word title,” “a book by an Indigenous author,” and “a book recommended by library staff.”

“You can interpret these categories as creatively as you’d like,” Cousineau said.

“We have a nice display with some suggestions set up at the library.”

The entry forms are available now, and Cousineau said there’s already been quite a bit of engagement with, and interest in, the reading challenge, so she recommends anyone interested in taking part in the winter reading challenge to come into the library for a form sooner rather than later.

For more about the Fort Frances Public Library Technology Centre’s Adult Reading Challenge head down to the Library or contact Nadine Cousineau at 274-9879. For the downloadable form, visit ffpltc.ca/node/2593.