The seasons are turning, and that means it’s time for another reading challenge at Chillicothe Public Library District (CPLD)! Although libraries are most well-known for their summer reading programs, CPLD offers reading challenges during other seasons as well, to motivate people to keep reading—and maybe even broaden their literary horizons. 

For winter, this involves completing three challenges that prompt readers to branch out into a variety of literary formats or topics, like a food-related book, a book in verse, or a book that was recommended by someone.

Reading can be an effective tool for self-discovery and understanding, as well as for learning about other perspectives and experiences. Tackling a fun reading challenge not only helps keep our brains in shape, but also can foster a more nuanced and compassionate understanding of the world around us, as we read things that we might not have picked up on our own.

If you’d like to try out the winter reading challenge—or simply want to get out of a reading rut—the staff at CPLD are always happy to help recommend a book (or ten). At the library, you’ll find displays with books from each of the featured categories from this year’s winter challenge. You can also generate recommendations through the NoveList tool, a special online resource available while you are in the library, either on your mobile device or on one of our public computers. NoveList contains information on over 260,000 fiction and nonfiction titles, featuring lists of award-winning books, book discussion guides, Read-a-Like recommendations, and complete series information, along with reader ratings and reviews.

For more information on library reading programs, book recommendations, and more, visit Chillicothe Public Library at 430 N. Bradley Ave., Chillicothe, IL, call 309-274-2719, or find them on the web at www.chillipld.org.