Greetings!
With the cooler weather settling in (or at least some of us hope we will see some cooler temps soon), fall is the perfect time to cozy up with a good book—and your local library is the ideal place to start! Whether you’re looking for new releases, classic novels, or even attending library events, there’s something for everyone this season. Libraries offer a welcoming space to unwind, discover new stories, and take advantage of all the resources available to support your personal growth and well-being.
I hope you’ll take some time this fall to explore what the Clermont County Public Library has to offer!
We hope you will join us this Wednesday, November 6th at 12:00 pm for a 30-minute webinar: Take a Look Inside the Book – Reading and Brain Health. The webinar is free, but registration is required at go.osu.edu/lhlwwebinars.
Be Well!
Kelly and Margaret
Margaret Jenkins
Extension Educator
Family and Consumer Sciences
Ohio State University Extension, Clermont County
Kelly Royalty
Extension Educator
4-H Youth Development / Family and Consumer Sciences
Ohio State University Extension, Clermont County
Take a Look Inside a Book!
Today we are in Central Ohio – home of the state capital, Columbus. Central Ohio has a lot to offer visitors and residents alike and today we are going to explore the Columbus Metropolitan Main Library! This library is situated in downtown Columbus and hosts a variety of events open to the public. Currently, they are hosting a series of author talks of today’s most popular books, as well as toddler story times, a “How to Adult” series, business and grants resource advisors, and so much more. Even if you aren’t local to the Columbus area, you can still take part in their virtual events – check out the schedule here. Of course, there are also lots of books to be borrowed at the Columbus Metropolitan Library as well – they take part in the inter-library exchange program with other libraries around Ohio, so the next time you borrow a library book – look to see if it came from “CML”!
Libraries are great resources to any community and can increase our health and wellness at any age. For adults, reading can reduce stress levels – in some cases, more than walking, listening to music, or playing video games. Reading can also increase empathy for adults. When we read, we are immersing ourselves in another culture, time period, profession, or sometimes even in another world. This exposes individuals to different ideas and aids in understanding different life experiences, creating a more empathetic audience. Studies also support that readers are good for their communities – they often volunteer more than twice as often as non-readers.
Reading can also have a positive impact on our brain health. As we age, our working memory (the ability to hold thoughts in our mind for a short period as we engage with it) tends to decline in its ability. A study conducted in Illinois showed that a group of older adults who read for 90 minutes, 5 days a week, for 8 weeks showed improvements to working memory, when compared with a similar group who completed word puzzles instead of reading. Researchers suggested that the “magic juice” of the study was that the books participants read were engaging and readers were “immersed in a story.”
Of course, reading is also important for the brain development of our youngest readers and pre-readers. Infants can listen to the adults in their lives read to them and pick up on language as they prepare to say their first words. Research shows that the quantity of words matters when babies are learning language, but also the quality of the words – that is the diversity of the words they are hearing. For toddlers and preschoolers, reading can encourage children to think new ideas and increase understanding and critical thinking. When you are reading to children, stop and ask them questions about the story or see if they can connect the story to their own lives. This is an interactive type of reading called dialogic reading. Need some books to read to your child? There is always plenty to choose from at your local library, but also consider registering your child for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, where they will receive a free book every month until the age of 5. Learn more about this program here.
For additional information on Central Ohio parks, festivals, nature, tours, and historic attractions check out https://ohio.org/home/regions/central.
Call to Action: Visit your local library (or add your library card to apps like Hoopla or Libby) to check out a new book. Whether a physical book, eBook, or audiobook, aim to read for 15 minutes each day. If you are able, add a little more reading time to your schedule!
Writer: Jessica Lowe, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Pickaway County lowe.495@osu.edu
Reviewer: Lisa Barlage, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Ross County, barlage.7@osu.edu