Mountain View Public Library

On Feb. 8 from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., the Mountain View Public Library will join the Association for Library Services to Children, a part of American Library Association, in Take Your Child to the Library Day.

The library will be open an extra hour that evening for parents to bring their child to the library after parents get off work or after a sports practice.

Mountain View has a wonderful library, and this is a perfect time for families to pop in, check it out, get a library card and start a new and inexpensive family activity by coming to the library. There are books for all ages and reading levels, magazines, movies, newspapers, computers and free wifi. Activities for all ages, kits that contain family games such as dominoes and Twister, cake pans, knitting supplies, and a lot more. The library is amazing.

Families are busy. Kids are busy, and books are expensive. It is hard to find time to read between schoolwork, church activities, sporting events and friends but 15 minutes a day is all it takes to improve your child's reading skills and vocabulary.

Whether it is your child reading to themselves, siblings, you or you reading to them, it is time well invested. Reading is the beginning of a good education. Though your child may not agree that reading is as important as gaming, sports or TikTok, it really is. 

Schedule a 15 minute window to read, and make it a habit in your child's life -- hopefully a lifetime habit.

Beth Smith, Director of the Mtn View Public Library