Books can take us anywhere: to any time, any place, or culture. Ninety-one percent of Americans say that libraries and reading are important to their communities. (2013, Library Services in the Digital Age.) Florida Department of State recorded that over 57% of Floridians have a library card, which is more than 12.3 million book-readers. Here, at the Florida National University Library, we support the academic curriculum with reading materials in print format and digitally, with resources and services. Reading is essential to support studying, teaching, and learning. Recreational reading is also important. “Novels, poems, and historic romance highlights the drama of the reading dance.” (2007, IT) Isabell Allende, Carlos Ruiz Zafon, Danielle Steele, Dan Brown, Coelho, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Jose Marti, are among the most readable authors. In our local community, people read in more than one language. People say that good readers are good writers. Reading skills are essential for language acquisition, communication, and in sharing of information and ideas. In the digital age, we have access to information literacy and news 24/7.
During the down time, due to Covid-19, people were isolated and had more time to pick up a book and read. Books are powerful: they let us escape the limits of time and space, overcome isolation, misery, and depression. Books connect us to the outside world: they teach, reproach, and make readers reflect. Always like a good friend, books are near us. Books are the only medium that can transport us into the past, present, future, and to the far away worlds, even galaxies away. The value of reading and books in human life cannot be overestimated. The great poet William Shakespeare (1564-1616) said, “A book, a book, my kingdom for the book!” Meantime, take a book and read your heart out!
Ida Tomshinsky, MLS
Library Director itomshinsky@fnu.edu
