Outside Looking In

One of my best childhood memories was going to the public library to look for books to check out and read. It seems that this important adventurous time in a child's life has taken a back seat to other activities.
Parents need to be reminded how vital it is in any era that a child is able to experience the value of going to a library to check out books that he/she can sit down and read with or without help, depending on his/her reading level.
Before the tornado hit my hometown of Tracy, I lived close to the downtown area and would walk to the library and peruse the many children's books in the collection. Picking out your own books to take home seems boring when compared to getting a new video game to play, or putting on a singlet or uniform to compete in a youth tournament. While those things have their advantage, it's imperative that a parent doesn't try to live vicariously through their children athletically. It's much more beneficial to boost their reading ability, which will be used throughout their life. Eventually, a sports career comes to a screeching halt in most cases as their graduation cap is tossed skyward.
Before you think to pick up a phone or march down to the newspaper office to scream "How dare you say that my son/daughter should be reading instead of playing sports.", I am not saying sports don’t have an important role in a child's life. I've played almost every sport that was offered to me, attended thousands of sporting events on all levels, was a sports editor for 25 years, and was addicted to ESPN before it turned political.
Heck, I am not even referring to just Minneota children and parents. I'm talking about the entire country. But my soapbox sits mainly on the corner of Jefferson and Second Streets, so Minneota and the surrounding area is my target audience.
Minneota has a standout library director in Gail Perrizo. More than once we have had a discussion about how sad it is when the historic building that houses the Minneota Public Library seemingly sits lonely and quiet too often.
Perrizo and those who work at the library, as well as those associated with the Friends of the Library, are continually trying to find ways to entice and entertain the youth of the city through books and other available sources at the library.
The Minneota Public Library currently offers a Summer Reading Program that challenges a child to read at his/her reading level or higher, with prizes offered. There was recently a theatrical performance called "The Ant and the Grasshopper" (See Page 1) that performed at the Opera Hall. There is a Story Hour every Wednesday evening that includes a guest reader.
There are many regulars to the library, but there are many children in Minneota and other communities that have never stepped foot inside a library. I've asked many children that I run into during various events in town if they visit the library and if they tell me "no", I try my best to tell them how cool it is to be in there.
New research shows that 55 percent of children put off going to a library because they need to be silent while visiting there, and 25 percent have never even been to a library at all.
Surveys show that elementary school children are more likely to read than their older counterparts. The number of nine-year-olds who say they read for enjoyment almost every day dropped from slightly more than half in 1984, to under 40 percent in current times. The trend among middle schools who read for fun is worse at around 15 percent, according to the survey.
According to the American Library Association, children who read for pleasure daily score the highest on reading assignments.
Social media isn't helping any either. Learning to type or read "brb" or "lol", or placing emojis while texting isn't making anyone any smarter.
Parents play a key role in all this, but many may not realize how important it is to expose their children to books.
Part of the reason libraries are used less is because adults today are busier than ever with both parents having to work because of the ever-rising cost of living expenses. There are also many more programs and activities for children to get involved in than in the past, while social media has put a stranglehold of both kids and adults.
Is playing a youth baseball game, taking swimming lessons or being involved in a dance class more fun than going to a library and picking out a book to read? Of course, it is. That's not the point, though. While they all have their importance in a child, reading is still at the top of the list.
Again, there are still many parents that take the time to sit down and read to a child. But there are also many that do not. Challenge yourself to at least read a little more to your child than you are now. Take them to the library once a week. Get them involved in the Summer Reading Program. Take them to Story Hour.
Many schools have a "Pack the gym" night for certain sporting events. Let's pack the library, too.