Library News, by David W. Keeber
Red Rock News
Date: November 23, 2007
Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the holiday shopping season. I know, I know, nowadays it begins closer to the 4th of July, but that is not the point of this column. Rather, it is the act of holiday giving that I would like to focus on. In our great nation, we see this season’s gift giving not in its original form, that of the three kings bringing gifts to the baby Jesus, but as a measure of the financial health of our nation. Percentage increases in sales over last year, what those numbers forebode, whether we will survive as a nation with or without sufficient consumption at this time of year – it’s all a bit too much.
I would suggest that the concept of gifting is appropriate, both at this time of year and throughout the rest of the eleven months, but that we consider shifting our focus to more meaningful gifts. How about we consider gifting a skill, our time, our attention and concern for others through actions that speak from the heart, rather than from the wallet?
What I am talking about is the skill of, the love for reading. That would be a gift that would not end up in the landfill, or being re-gifted (unless the reader decided to pass on their love of reading). It is an essential skill for getting ahead, for being successful in life. One could hardly find a more appropriate gift with more meaning.
So how does one give the gift of reading? Aside from buying someone the books they will read, it is rather easy. It won’t break the bank as there is no hard cost to this gift. All you need to do is to read to someone who doesn’t know how to read. Share your skill, your love of reading and you will have passed on this all important tool for life.
Do you have a grandchild, a niece or nephew? Is there a neighborhood child that you might help out? Try volunteering at your local library, or school, or better yet, give some time to an area literacy center. Yes, that means training and time, but such a gift should be something from your heart and your time and talent, freely given, may well be the most precious gift of all.
Simply sit down and offer to read to that young child (although, at the literacy centers, you may well end up with an adult who wants to finally learn to read – so much the better!). Show them how much you enjoy reading. Ask them to read to you. Help them to understand what it is that has just been read. Teach them to be critical readers. Your time, your talents, and your love of reading will provide the very best example for the listener.
Now, I know, it is much easier to simply head to the store and get “something” they would like, using a minimum of one’s valuable time. We are all pretty busy. But, if a gift is to have real meaning, and not just help the economists’ projections, it should reflect some aspect of you. Reading is just exactly that.
Try doing this simple exercise. Ask your grandchild, child, niece or nephew, or an acquaintance if you can read to them. Ask them to select the book they want you to read. Then, as you lead them through the pages and adventures within the book’s covers, catch a glimpse of their face. If they are not sitting in rapt attention, eyes intently focused on the page, well, I’ll eat my hat!
So this holiday season, whether you are gifting for Christmas, Chanukah, Kwaanza, or any other celebration, be a bit subversive and spend your personal capital on the gift of reading. I’ll bet that it will be a gift you see used year after year!
