The New Year is an exciting time for bookworms. We love taking stock of the books we've read this year, and looking forward to all of the new reading experiences we'll have in the year to come! This is also a wonderful time to set reading goals, from number of books to read in the next year to expanding our reading horizons. Here are some of the reading resolutions from your Cromaine staff!
"I have a bad habit when it comes to reading a book series where I feel the need to save the last installment for a rainy day. My reading resolution: Finish what I started and knock out a bunch of the sequels on my TBR list!"
-Librarian Kelsey
"My general reading tendency is to pick up a good horror novel, sometimes a fantasy. For 2025, I'm adding nonfiction to the mix! My reading resolution this year is to read 10 pages of nonfiction daily. I want to learn new things, whether it’s about history, science, or personal growth, and expand my perspective. I'm looking to be inspired by the stories of real people, and find wisdom and advice to motivate me and guide me in my own life. Plus, nonfiction offers practical insights I can apply directly to improve different aspects of my daily routine."
-Community Engagement's Liz
"I read a lot of academic (due to school) and history books, so I really want to branch out to new materials. Plenty of my friends have sent me novels recommendations, primarily fiction and fantasy genres, so I created a reading list that I plan to finish by the end of 2025 that hopefully shows me what I like so I can find more material in the future!"
-Librarian Noah
"My reading goal for the year is 52 books, at least one a week. I listen to books on Libby and Hoopla and read books checked out from the library. An easy way to keep track of what you are reading is to save your loan history.
Log in to your account at Cromaine.org. Under your account, select "opt-in and notifications." Select "Save my loan history." Make sure to click on "Save" at the bottom of the page. This will keep a record of all the items you check out. If I am not enjoying a book, I return it and try again. Life is too short to read uninteresting books!"
-Circulation's Donna
"My main goal is to read only what I enjoy. I kind of do this every year!"
-Librarian Heather
"I am going for that comforting retro feel so I want to read one physical book per month. That's it. Just flipping through the pages of an actual physical book every month and absorbing the smells and nostalgia and pretending it's still 1997. Of course, I'll still be reading plenty of eBooks and listening to a ton of audiobooks, but I'd like to get back into reading paper books a little bit. We'll see what happens!"
-Librarian Erik
Do you have any reading goals or resolutions? Don't forget that the Winter Reading Challenge is a wonderful way to encourage yourself to read more! There are opportunities for readers of all ages to engage with new books, try new library activities, and earn tickets to enter into the prize boxes of your choice! Learn more about the 2024-2025 Winter Reading Challenge here.
Looking for some extra tips and tricks to ramp up your reading in 2025? Keep these ideas in mind as you set your reading goals!
- If you're an early riser (or don't find mornings particularly stressful), consider starting your day with reading. Quiet mornings can be a great time to enjoy a book with your coffee or tea, before the day gets busy. Alternatively, reading before bed is a good way to help the mind and body slow down for the evening.
- Get a change of scenery! If you tend to feel under-stimulated or bored while reading at home, get yourself to a local coffee joint, brewery, library, or other venue to dive into your book. You may even find yourself chatting with those around you about what you're reading, and you could make an unexpected friend and reading buddy!
- Consider joining a book club! Many local book clubs feature a central theme, so you can find a club that fits your interests. This is a wonderful way to meet other bookworms, and it can be exciting to read a book that you'll get to chat about later! Book clubs can also help us hold ourselves accountable to read a book by a specified meeting date. Find a local book club, or visit the Library's website to peruse Cromaine's book club options.
- Looking to read independently, but unsure of where to start? Visit the What to Read Next page of the Library's website to indicate your age group, interests, and books and movies that you've enjoyed in the past, and a Cromaine librarian will hand-select books, audiobooks, or e-books to place on hold for you! This is a wonderful way to find new materials to enjoy-- and hopefully kickstart your winter reading.
- If you enjoy reading the latest and greatest in modern publishing, we recommend perusing the New Items shelf at the Library. Here you will find recently published (and often Bestselling) books to enjoy. Plus, you may find yourself checking out a Lucky Day item-- a popular book that cannot be placed on hold, so if you see it on the shelf, it's your lucky day and you can help yourself! You can also peruse new items by visiting the Recommended Reads page of the Library website, and placing holds on books virtually through the online catalog. Good reading habits start with finding the perfect book for you, so this can be a helpful tool to help you read more this winter!
We can't wait to see you in the Library this winter. Stop by your Cromaine Library to enjoy a quiet reading space, meet new people at a crafting program or educational lecture, or peruse the bookshelves for your next great read! Everyone deserves to find a book that they can't get enough of, and your Cromaine Library is always happy to help you find what you're looking for.
Happy reading!