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Fall and spring offers a time for families to enjoy reading together

The Jessamine County Public Library focuses on encouraging family engagement and making memories through many activities, one of which is its Family Book Club.
“We’ve been doing Family Book Club since 2015, so four years now,” Markting and PR director for JCPL Grant Laufenburger said.
“Our families had been asking for a book club for their kids for some time and we thought it would be really nice to create something that would encourage family engagement and allow parents and kids of all ages to read aloud together and share some great stories.  We wanted a way for families to be able to participate and discuss the book as they go, without having to add another weekly meeting.”
Through Nov. 2, the Family Book Club will take place at JCPL, located at 600 S. Main St. in Nicholasville. Registration is required, and a party is held for everyone upon completion of the book.
Encouraging reading at any age, Laufenburger said, and sharing a book is a great way for family members to get involved and accomplish that task.
The first 50 families who sign up receive a free copy of the book being discussed.
“We allow as many families as are interested to sign up and receive the discussion questions and participate on the blog,” Laufenburger said.
“Our wrap up party attendance varies based on the time of year and what other activities are going on in the community.”
The book being discussed currently, “The Magician’s Nephew,” a patron suggested and Laufenburger agreed would be a good fit for the program.
“When families read aloud together they are able to experience the same story together,” Laufenburger said. “For young children, it helps guild language awareness and vocabulary. For older children it helps strengthen the literacy skills that they already have.  When the whole family is sharing the story aloud together they can discuss what takes place and share their ideas and opinions.”
For the party, each family will be encouraged to create a board game using settings, characters, plot twists etc. from the book that they can go back and play later.
A family book club is offered every fall and spring in Jessamine County at JCPL, and Laufenburger said families throughout the county approach him and say how much they enjoyed the experience and can’t wait to see what book is chosen next.
“It’s a lot of fun and a great way to spend time together as a family.”
For more information, visit www.jesspublib.org or call 859-885-3523.