Library

I’ve never been what anyone would call “hip” (even using that term tells you how unhip I am), so trends often pass me by. Luckily, we’re hosting a virtual Animal Crossing escape room this week, which inspired me to play the game and see what all the hype is about.

I didn’t expect to like it, but it’s a sweet game that’s slow-paced and surprisingly soothing. The basic premise is that you’ve decided to live on a deserted island with the help of the Nook Corporation. You start your island life in a tent with two fellow island dwellers and the Nook Co. staff. You can spend your time on the island doing whatever you want from collecting critters and digging for fossils to crafting a plethora of DIY projects.

While there are plenty of things you can do to advance the game and improve the amenities of your island, there’s no pressure to do any of it. In fact, it’s difficult to hurry in the game. Various species of critters are only available to catch during specific times of the year and specific times of the day. The game operates in real time, so if something is only available in the afternoon in July, you have to wait until an afternoon in July to find it.

The virtual escape room we have this week was created by The White Oak Library District (IL) Teen Services Team and is being used with their permission. In the escape room, a painting has gone missing from the island museum and you must help solve the crime. The White Oak Library District staff did a good job of recreating the atmosphere of the video game while offering a nice mystery.

Also this week, we have another PageTurner Adventure and related craft. Our bonus craft is candle art, so don’t forget to swing by Tuesday (we’re closed Monday) and grab your supplies! It’s also not too late to register for Summer Reading!

We had a lot of unknowns when planning this year’s Summer Reading program. Generally, the goal is to have the bulk of things planned and booked by the end of February. At that point, COVID was still hitting us pretty hard, vaccines were just getting to people, and we had no idea when construction would begin on our building. Lilly, Autumn, and the youth services staff had a lot to deal with as they planned (and I was not much help)!

I could not be more pleased with what they put together! They decided to prepare for about 165 people to register for the reading portion of our program – a little more than we had in 2020, but less than we had in 2019. They also, wisely, planned virtual and grab-and-go programs to accompany a few in-person events.

What an amazing turnout we’ve had so far! As of this writing, we have 312 people from all over Mayes and Rogers Counties registered. We’ve also had amazing turnouts for all of the June events! So far, we’ve hosted five events for adults and teens with about 89 people in attendance total. Our six events for kids have had a total of 540 participants!

We have even more fun to look forward to in July with a mobile dairy, sling rockets, an Animal Crossing-themed virtual escape room, and more crafts! It’s also not too late to register for Summer Reading. Kids and teens earn books and entries for a grand prize. Adults are entered into a drawing for several prizes, including a gift card to the Book Exchange.

This week, PageTurner Adventures has a new adventure on our Facebook page. We’ve got a craft that goes with it and an additional free-for-all craft bag. The craft bag could be just about anything, but it’s sure to be fun. Autumn will be on Facebook and Instagram with storytime on Wednesday and First Chapter Friday on Friday.

When you think about the act of reading for pleasure, what reading format do you picture? Most people picture someone reading a physical (usually fiction) book. I think that stereotype has done many people a disservice. If reading a physical chapter book is the only form of reading for pleasure, no wonder so many people think they don’t like to read!

Many years ago, back when I was a Teen Services Librarian, I told my teens signing up for Summer Reading that I didn’t care what they read – all formats counted. My standard line was something like, “you can read bound books, ebooks, audiobooks, comic books, magazines, newspapers, wordy websites, cereal boxes, or billboards. Just read.”

Some of my teens’ parents were surprised by this blanket permission. Reading should be fun! It’s better to find a format that you and/or your kids enjoy than to struggle and get frustrated trying to make yourself/them enjoy a format just because it’s traditional.

As you and your family work through our Summer Reading Program logs and activity sheets, feel free to read in any format you want. It all counts as reading. Reading an audiobook, magazine, ebook, or a comic book is not cheating. I promise. Plus, we aren’t requiring book reports when you turn things in. Just read and have fun, that’s all we’re looking for.

This week, don’t forget to take part in our Summer Reading activities! Look for the link on our Facebook page to PageTurner Adventures beginning Monday. Each week features different themes (Farmyard Friends this week) and various activities that go along with that theme. This will run through July 16th. We also have grab and go crafts for PageTurner Adventure and a grab & go book diorama. Our online toddler storytime will post Wed. and our First Chapter Friday reading will post Fri.

One of the hardest things I’ve done as a reader is give myself permission to put down a book – to not finish. It’s a struggle for me every time. I feel a sense of guilt like I’ve let the book down. I also fear that if I stop reading, this book that clearly isn’t for me, will somehow switch gears and I’ll miss something worthwhile. But time is precious and we do not have to finish every book we start.

My most recent “Did Not Finish” book is “The Midnight Library” by Matt Haig. I really wanted to like this book. It has so many positive reviews! Plus, it explores the concept that each decision we make creates an alternate reality where we make the other decision and has a mysterious and mystical library full of infinite knowledge both in books and in the form of a caretaker. I should love this book!

Alas, it suffered two problems for me: 1) The main character dies by suicide and is thus transported to the titular Midnight Library. Her suicide and the feelings that led her to that point are too heavy for me right now. 2) The “Quantum Leap” style exploration of the main character’s multiverse was off putting. I couldn’t suspend disbelief long enough to get invested in the story and want to finish reading. I think I’m in the minority here, so let me know if you had a different experience with “The Midnight Library.”

In the meantime, we have so much going on at your Pryor Library this week! Our grab & go craft, available at the Youth Services Desk, is Animal Origami. (It may be a challenge for those under 5 years old.) We have a virtual trivia night for teens and adults on Thurs. June 17 at 6:30 pm (watch our Facebook for links). And on Friday at 10 am, a performer and her border collies will be on the lawn across the street for “Wag that tale.” It’s sure to be a great time!