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We are looking forward to seeing you at the Main Library at 15 Barrows Street. The hours are:

Monday and Thursday 10-8
Tuesday and Wednesday 1-8
Friday 10-5 and Saturday 10-5

You will find plenty of parking, lots of comfortable seating, and modern restrooms. The Library's temporary home is a wonderful place to stay warm and do a little research, use a computer, read a magazine, catch up on new fiction and nonfiction titles, or select a current DVD for the weekend.

In our busy lives, there is much to distract and interfere with leisure reading time, but why is reading important anyway? With television to give us news, videos and electronic games to amuse us, who needs to read anymore? Below are some answers, and with a little thought, you could probably think of a few more yourself!

-The beauty of language has the ability to calm and relax us and provide stress relief. Taking our minds off our problems, even for a few minutes, can have a great relaxing effect. Reading is a deeply satisfying pursuit as well. We all know the expression 'curling up with a book' and how it evokes warm and cozy images. It's especially a treat if you don't get the time for it very often.

-Reading fiction can take us through a gamut of emotions, or possibly help us to work through our own emotions. It can make us laugh, terrify us, challenge our beliefs, give us courage, or make us sad. As a reader, we are an active participant in the story as we enter it's world, and may closely experience what the characters are experiencing.

-Since reading is mostly a solitary activity, being alone, or at least alone in our thoughts, is a way to maintain a sense of self. Even just a few minutes of reading can keep us going throughout the day. Reading is like exercising - the mental and physical benefits flow from a regular routine. Yes, it may be harder than watching TV or viewing a movie, but for the effort, our mind is made more attentive and stronger. We know we've read something special when we find our thoughts continually re-visiting it throughout the day.

-Reading can be just plain fun and entertaining. This is a reward in itself without needing explanation!

Join us for hot cider and cookies to celebrate the opening of the Ames Free Library on Barrows Street

Saturday, December 1st
11:00 AM to 1:00 PM.

Book Brigade Volunteers Come in for a Special Gift!

Sept. 5, 2007 marked the 50th anniversary of the publication of On the Road, the novel by Jack Kerouac which gave voice to his generation's postwar experiences. With its energetic portrayal of the thrills and confusions of being young in the early years of the Cold War, it also helped usher in the "Beatnik" movement and many of the radical changes in American culture.

On the Road chronicles Jack Kerouac's years traveling the North American continent with his friend Neal Cassady, "a sideburned hero of the snowy West." As "Sal Paradise" and "Dean Moriarty," the two roam the country in a quest for self-knowledge and experience. Kerouac's love of America, his compassion for humanity, and his sense of language as jazz, combine to make On the Road an inspirational work of lasting importance.

If you enjoyed On the Road, here are a few more titles which focus on discovery, both in the physical world, and the emotional and intellectual world within.

The Beach, by Alex Garland

All the Pretty Horses, by Cormac McCarthy.

The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho

Gentlemen of the Road, by Michael Chabon.

Dirt Music, by Tim Winton

Going To the Sun, by James McManus

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, by Jonathan Safran Foer

*Image above found in a UCLA online magazine article on teens multitasking

A recent report released by the National Endowment for the Arts indicates a concern that's been generating a buzz among parents, teachers, and anyone else concerned with the educational needs of children and teens- they are doing a lot less reading.

Major distractions to teen reading might include video games, surfing the web, cell phones, and iPods. Listed below are some highlights of this 99 page report which combined the research from 40 studies by universities, foundations, business groups, and government agencies.

• Only 30 percent of 13-year-olds read almost every day
• The number of 17-year-olds who never read for pleasure increased from 9 percent in 1984 to 19 percent in 2004
• Almost half of Americans between ages 18 and 24 never read books for pleasure
• The average person between ages 15 and 24 spends 2 to 2 1/2 hours a day watching TV and 7 minutes reading

Thanks for reading our newsletter. If there are events or services you would like to see profiled in the future, email or stop by and let us know. Contact us at info@amesfree library.org
Sincerely,
Ames Free Library Staff