Date: 2/27/2025
“You know that you’ve read a good book when you turn the last page and feel a little like you have lost a good friend.” - Paul Sweeney
There is a question I would like to ask all of you; are you a reader? Do you find comfort in finding a quiet spot, be it a library or a comfortable room in your home, opening a book and getting lost in a good story? I have always loved to read, and whenever I get a chance, I go into our living room, away from the noise of the television, and get lost in a new adventure. As Neil Garman states, “a book is a dream that you hold in your hand,” and I find myself getting so engrossed in a good novel, that I put aside all my worries of the day, and join some of my favorite characters as they take off visiting new countries, engage in perilous exploits, and work to resolve serious issues. As you might guess, while I enjoy non- fiction, my love is for fiction, and I have certain “heroes” that I follow every time one of their new adventures is published.
Some of you may ask where this love for reading originated, so I will share with you a brief story. Imagine a four-year-old boy, his eight-year-old sister and their father going out every Wednesday evening to a Chicago Public Library to select two books each for their weekly reading. At age four, I did not have a library card, so I was fortunate that my sister Janet would always sign out my two selections for that week. My father was a firm believer in the power of reading; he served as a great motivator and role model as a nightly reader of the Bible. Dad not only required us to take out two books each week, we had to provide a report on the content of each book before we ventured back to the library for two new readings. My father viewed reading as an opportunity to expose us to the wonders of the world, things we could not explore from our home in Norridge. While he probably never heard the statement, my father would have been a firm supporter of Kate DiCamilo when she said, “reading should not be a chore, a duty. It should be offered as a gift.” My father’s promotion of reading was truly a gift he gave to all his children.
Even if you are not an avid reader, when you get a chance, take some time to visit our Indian Prairie Library, and take a look at all the great resources they offer to our residents. Staff will assist you in finding a way to explore our world through reading, and as Dr. Seuss says, “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” I hope that all of you will have a chance to get lost and explore our world in a great book. Happy reading!