Library Reading Challenge Celebrates Decades

The Putnam County Library hosting a January Reading Challenge called “Through the Decades.”

Outreach and Communications Librarian Lexi Romero said the library organized the free challenge to encourage people to explore books from different decades. Romero said there are no sign-ups required, but rather the focus is on gaining knowledge through literature.

“I think reading is important um for everyone and I think this specific thing like I said, gets people to read something they wouldn’t normally read,” Romero said. “And help them branch out a little. It’s sorta like a book club.”

Romero said this opportunity could be a way to bring families together. She said that the library has children’s books from throughout the decades, and giving your child a book from your past could offer valuable insight.

“We have a lot of children’s book that are based on people from different decades,” Romero said. “So maybe they could with there kids they could gets a kids book based on that person or that decade and then maybe then can also find an adult book and they can read together.”

Romero said the library has books available in-house that can be checked out for free. Romero said this is a pick-and-read event, just go down to the library and choose a book to read. She also said that eBooks are available online through both the library’s website and Hoopla’s platform, as well as their social media pages. Romero said typing “Putnam County Library” or “Hoopla” into a search bar to access more information. Romero said that the library pays Hoopla on a monthly basis for certain collections and posts them online.

“It’s a service that we pay for and we provide to the public for free,” Romero said. “Every month they post like a new resource that they have available, and we get emails and just different things they’re doing.”

After reading a book from the collection, which can be found online or in person at the Putnam County Library, participants can share their achievement on social media by tagging @hoopladigital and using the hashtag #hooplachallenge.