Take Time to Read is a two-year program running at all King County libraries that helps suggest that people take time out of their busy lives to read.

“And it doesn’t just have to be books, it can be magazines, the newspaper, anything,” says Elsa Steele, the managing librarian at the Kirkland Library.

“We think peoples’ lives are getting so busy that they aren’t making time to read. We thought that if we got people thinking a little more about making time to read, they would do it more often, and it would make them feel more relaxed and informed, and provide them with new ideas,” said Steele.

Here are some ways you can participate in Take Time to Read: You can fill out a Take Time to Read card, (which asks when and where you like to Take Time to Read), come to the library to sit in the leisurely Take Time to Read rocking chair, and more!

There are also some goodies that you can take with you at the library, such as stickers, brochures, and permission cards that say things like “Chores can wait” and “It’s okay.” These permission cards are used to show somebody who is interrupting you while you are trying to read to let them know that you are already occupied. You can use them as gifts, keep them for yourself or just have the cards around.

There is also a Book Cover Walking Tour. Throughout eight King County communities, there are more than 100 different book covers in which you type that book’s code number on the Book Cover Walking Tour’s Web page (www.kcls.org) and it will take you to a map, and an audio recorded book review of that particular book.

Here is what some Kirkland people say about when and where they like to read:

“I like to read on the bus, and to my daughter,” says Mick.

“I usually read at night before bed,” says Connie.

“I like to read in bed at night,” says Blake, age 11.

“I like to read in my car at lunch time,” says Kathy.

“I usually read at my house around 8:00,” says Avery, age 11.

“I like to read at night with my daughter and in bed,” says Camerin, Avery’s mom.

Please participate in Take Time to Read!

Kirkland resident Allison Hoff is 8 years old.