The start of a new year is a great time to reflect, renew, and set new goals!
For book lovers, it’s a great time to set reading goals for the coming year. Whether you want to start a new reading habit, diversify your reading list, or devour even more books, here are some ideas to help you achieve it!
Pick a Number
Set a goal for the number of books you want to read this year. One a week, one a month, one a season. It’s doesn’t matter how ambitious the goal. But having a target may help keep you motivated.
If setting a book goal seems too daunting or regimented, try choosing an amount of time you want to set aside for reading each day or each week. That way, if you don’t finish a book because you don’t like it, the time you spent reading it still counts toward your resolution!
To set an achievable goal, look at the amount of free time you have in a day or week to determine how much time you can realistically dedicate to reading.
Diversify
In addition to (or maybe instead of) choosing how many books you want to read, challenge yourself to explore new genres and voices. If you love reading historical fiction, try a mystery, or young adult title, or a memoir. Read books by authors from different cultures, identities and backgrounds than yourself.
Don’t know where to start? NCW Libraries has curated diverse collections for Women’s History Month, Black History Month, Pride Month, Native American Heritage Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and more.
Seeking out stories that offer new perspectives and voices can broaden your understanding of the world and ignite your interest in reading.
Join a Challenge
Join a reading challenge to push yourself.
NCW Libraries’ annual Winter Reading Program runs through Jan. 31. Log your reading for a chance to win prizes from your community library. Or sign up online and get into drawings for prizes.
With your library card, you can join monthly virtual reading challenges on the Beanstack App all year long. Log your reading and earn fun digital badges.
There are a wide range of online reading challenges you can join. To find one that’s just right for you, check out The Ultimate List of Online Reading Challenges.
Join a Club
Participate in a reading community such as a book club to help make reading fun and social. Engage in discussions and share your insights with others to enhance your reading experience.
NCW Library branches that offer book clubs right now include the Sugar & Spice Romance Book Club at the Cashmere Library, the Chat & Laugh Book Club at the Cashmere Library, the Banned Book Club at Wenatchee,the Spanish-language book club Club de Lectura at the Wenatchee Library, the Entiat Library offers a Walk in the Park Book Club, the Waterville Book Club, and the monthly Silent Reading Party with the East Wenatchee Library.
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