Program wants to keep teens reading

Keeping teenagers reading is the purpose behind Teen Read Week.

The Sweetwater County Library System is working hard to keep children reading throughout their lives, including their teenage years.

“Many teens who were avid readers as children fall out of reading when they reach their teenage years. It’s important, however, for teens to keep reading, especially to engage in reading for fun,” Lindsey Travis, library public relations specialist, said. “Reading helps to reduce stress and boredom. Through reading, teens can also discover new interests and learn to understand others -- they can also see that others may have similar life struggles.”

Teen Read Week, which started Monday and will end Saturday, and is a national literacy initiative of the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA).

The purpose of the week is spotlight all the great resources and activities available at the libraries to help teens build literacy skills while reading for the fun of it.

This year’s theme, “Get Away @ Your Library,” encourages libraries to help teens escape from the day-to-day grind of school, homework, family responsibilities, part-time jobs and so on by picking up something to read. 

“Teens who read often have higher GPAs, which can help their success in college and later in life,” Travis said. “Also, those who read as teenagers are more likely to be readers as adults.”

Throughout this week, teens are especially encouraged to use their library during Teen Read Week. As an incentive the library is hosting a contest.

The libraries are inviting kids in fifth grade and up to drop by and enter a contest in celebration of Teen Read Week.

Teens are encouraged to redesign a book cover on 81/2 by 11 paper or smaller and bring it to the library.

Upon returning their design, they will receive a treat and will be entered into a contest to win a $25 gift card.

“Contests like the book cover redesign contest help teens use their imaginations. If they’ve read a book, they can bring their vision of the book to life,” Travis said. “Also, teens can see what books others have read, which may cause them to read those books as well.”

Mystery Dinner – 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22 for middle school students and 5:30 p.m. for high school Students. Sign up at the library or by calling 875-3615.

“Programs such as the Mystery Dinner at the library in Green River help teens discover different book genres that they may have not previously considered reading,” Travis said. “These types of programs also help teens connect with others who may have similar reading interests. They also bring teens into the library so they have the opportunity to search for new books.”