I’ll make a guess and say reading more is on your resolutions list. There’s a way to make that task easier. And you won’t have to completely ditch your social media time.
Books and social media work well together. Popular GoodReads is a perfect illustration. You get book recommendations and it’s great for finding like-minded folks to share your reading enthusiasm. However, there are other contenders for your book-social media time. Three free popular book-social media hybrids to explore:
GoodReads (www.goodreads.com) began in 2007 but was acquired in 2013 by Amazon. It’s the best-known book social media site. Both Lakeland Public and Lake Wales Public Library host groups on GoodReads.
LibraryThing (www.librarything.com) looks a bit intimidating with its old-school interface. However, you’ll find there is a healthy Polk Countywide community of users.
Litsy (litsy.com) is a new presence in the book-social media world. It’s easy-to-use and the Instagram-worthy graphics are stunning. The site, designed for mobile devices, directs you to download the Litsy app.
Riffle (www.rifflebooks.com) operates similarly to GoodReads. Easy to use, it has a robust community of readers, librarians, publishers and more.
These websites open a new world of reading and community.
PCLC Libraries
All Polk County Library Cooperative (PCLC) libraries are closed Monday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Contact information of all PCLC libraries can be found at http://www.mypclc.org/libraries.
eLibrary South Lakeland
Coloring anyone? Mellow Mondays, eLibrary South Lakeland’s adult coloring group, meets Mondays from 10 a.m. to noon. All supplies provided.
Have your child read to therapy dogs and improve their reading skills. The furry friends from Paws for Friendship Inc. are safe, friendly, and nonjudgmental reading buddies. Paws to Read meets 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Jan. 27 at the eLibrary South Lakeland. Contact the eLibrary at 863-838-4507.
Fort Meade Public Library
There’s still time to enroll your kids to learn computer coding. The sign-up deadline for Fort Meade Kids’ Coding Club ends Jan. 22 by phone 863-285-8287 or in person at Fort Meade Public Library. The club is aimed at 10 to 14-year-olds and will meet twice a month, beginning at 4 p.m. Feb. 5.
Lake Alfred Public Library
A bi-weekly Tax Q&A class begins 2 p.m. Jan. 25 at Lake Alfred Public Library. For more information, call 863-291-5378.
Lakeland Public Library
Excited about author Craig Johnson’s visit to Lakeland Public Library on Feb. 1? Join other "Longmire" fans for a showing of the Netflix/A&E TV series pilot episode at 7 p.m. Jan. 18 at Lakeland Public Library. Contact Brenda Patterson at 863-834-4276 or Brenda.Patterson@lakelandgov.net.
Correction: This column previously reported Craig Johnson’s reading begins at 6 p.m. on Feb. 1. It begins at 7 p.m. on Feb. 1.
Want to unwind before the weekend? Coloring Carnival Fridays, Lakeland Public Library’s adult coloring group, meets from 10 a.m. to noon Fridays. All supplies provided. Contact Brenda Patterson at 863-834-4276 or Brenda.Patterson@lakelandgov.net.
Lake Wales Public Library
Is joining a book group part of your New Year’s resolutions? Although you can find book groups at most PCLC libraries, Lake Wales Public Library offers three opportunities to get your group read on: Truth is Stranger Than Nonfiction Book Discussion, which meets at Lake Wales Museum & Cultural Center; Night Owls Book Discussion and Thursday Morning Book Discussion, which meets at Lake Wales Public Library.
The Night Owls Book Discussion meets 6 p.m. Jan. 23 and will discuss “Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk” by Kathleen Rooney. The Thursday Morning Book Discussion meets 11 a.m. Jan. 25 and will discuss “My Name is Lucy Barton,” by Elizabeth Strout.
The Truth is Stranger Than Nonfiction Book Discussion meets at noon Jan. 24 in the Lake Wales Museum & Cultural Center. It will discuss “Mirage: Florida & the Vanishing Water of the Eastern U.S.” by Cynthia Barnett. For more information on all three book clubs, contact Lake Wales Public Library at library@cityoflakewales.com or 863-678-4004.
Larry R. Jackson Branch Library
Watch movies with family and friends at the Larry R. Jackson Branch Library. “The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature” will be shown 5:30 to 7 p.m. Tuesday. . Contact Yadira Camacho at 863-834-4288 or Yadira.Camacho@lakelandgov.net.
Sign up for the Microsoft Excel Basics class 6 p.m. Jan. 22 at Jackson Branch Library. Laptops will be provided. Attendees must have basic mouse and computer skills. Registration opens Jan. 15: https://goo.gl/MtcrJx. Contact Chris Hielscher at 863-834-4288 or Christina.Hielscher@lakelandgov.net.
Like international films? i² Film Club, an international independent film viewing and discussion group, meets at Jackson Branch Library 10:30 a.m. Jan. 27. Contact Brenda Patterson at 863-834-4276 or Brenda.Patterson@lakelandgov.net.
Brenda Joyce Patterson is Fine Arts/Adult Programming Librarian at Lakeland Public Library.