Image by Comfreak from Pixabay

BY: RACHEL WUMKES

Even before my children were born, I read to them.  As I sat in their bedroom, patiently waiting their arrival into the World, I paged through books, reading line after line.  Little did I realize it was the first of thousands of times I’d read those very same books.

Over and over and over… we read the books until they literally fell apart in my hands.

There is something special about opening up a fresh book.  The excitement you feel as you dive in to the first chapter.  If you are like me, nothing holds my attention more than well-written story.  I actually feel the emotions of the characters, their happiness, their heartbreak.

Reading is a fantastic hobby that provides an immense amount of enjoyment.  But did you know there are other benefits for reading as well?

According to Healthline.com, reading is proven to increase vocabulary and prevent cognitive decline.  Research has shown via MRI that reading incites new brain activity and develops existing areas.  Reading also increases empathy.  When you are able to feel the emotions of the characters, to really understand what they’re going through, that carries on into our daily life.

Then, of course, there are the “mom benefits” as I like to call them.  Have you ever hit your limit for the day, drawn a bath and grabbed a good book for a bit of a time out?  It’s been proved to reduce stress, alleviate depression, and can even aid in sleep habits.

All good things to help keep your sanity!

Lastly, reading is shown to lengthen one’s lifespan, which is not a bad perk at all!

A big battle is often the discussion over what to read.  Romance? Thrillers? Poetry? The simple answer is… whatever you can get your hands on!  There was once a time when remote regions had to rely on librarians traversing the mountains with books stuffed in saddlebags. But that is hardly the case today. Just about everyone can access vast libraries contained in cellphones and tablets.

Thankfully, we have an incredible library right here in Clear Lake!  Even with all the trials and tribulations thrown their way with the onset of COVID restrictions and such, our team of librarians have persevered, doing everything they can to ensure our community has access to reading material.

And, now that said restrictions are beginning to lessen, the library is once again open to the public!  However, for those who are concerned, some activities are being held via zoom so anyone can enjoy.  Also, they ask that patrons visit the library only once per day, not to exceed one hour in the library, including time spent using the computers.  Curbside services will still be available for those who prefer that method.

There is also an extraordinary library of digital books available to anyone with a library card!  They just got a whole bunch of new titles available through the State Library, so there are more digital options than ever for you to choose from.  The digital library is open 24/7 so you can access resources wherever you are by simply visiting www.cllibrary.org/digital-books-magazines/

And for all you Mama’s out there, summer is just around the corner, and the Clear Lake Library has an awesome summer reading program to keep those kiddos engaged in reading after school is out!  Here is a sneak peek at the program – it looks like it’ll be a fun one, and I can’t wait for it to start!

To stay up to date on all things happening at the library, follow them on Facebook or go to www.cllibrary.org

Happy Reading!