BATH
Patten Free Library is launching a new service for teen readers called “Book Match.” After Labor Day, young adults will be able to create personalized reading lists with the assistance of library staff. The service is free and open to any student in grades seven to twelve residing in the library’s service area or attending an R.S.U. 1 school.
“One of the biggest challenges for our middle and high school readers is finding the right book, “ says Laurel Cox, a reference librarian who manages the Young Adult collection at Patten. “There are so many great books that never make the best seller lists and that young adult readers don’t know about. When they get busy with other things during the school year, they don’t have time to browse the collection, so many of them just end up not reading at all outside of what is required at school. We hope we can change that by providing them with a list of new titles that reflect their interests and abilities.”
Students who are interested in working on a personalized reading list should stop by the Information Desk in the Reference Room to pick up and fill out a short questionnaire. The questionnaire can also be found on line at http://tinyurl.com/l7j7dqd.
The library’s teen book group will also resume its regular meetings after Labor Day. A small but loyal group of high school girls has been meeting every other month for the last two years to read and discuss contemporary young adult fiction. Two Bowdoin college students moderate the book discussions, which are usually focused on issues that hit close to home with high school students, particularly girls. The books are provided at no cost to book group members through a statewide nonprofit, Mainely Girls. Teen girls in grades 9 through 12 are welcome to participate. Please stop by the Information Desk to reserve a copy of this year’s first book, Paper Towns by John Green.
For additional information about Book Match or the book group, contact Roberta Jordan at 443-5141, ext. 25, or by emailing her at rjordan@patten.lib.me.us.
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