By Barbara Scott
Staff Writer
With more and more activities competing for a teen’s time, finding time to read can be somewhat of a challenge. Combine this with not being able to drive oneself around and you have an even bigger dilemma. This is what got local librarians Barbara Finlay and Mona Martin thinking about a way to provide an opportunity for teens to read and connect with others without some of the traditional barriers to participating in programs.
Contributed photo
Caribou High School Librarian Barbara Finlay discusses a Book Group title with student Larry Tarbox. The book club offers CHS students a chance to share their enjoyment of reading with other members, Finlay and Mona Martin, assistant librarian at the Caribou Public Library. Finlay and Martin organized the Book Group last year.
“We found that teens wanted to read, talk about books and be involved in library programs but could not always get to them. Transportation is one of the biggest obstacles to participating in our library programs,” says Martin, assistant librarian at the Caribou Public Library. “We wanted a way to encourage teens to participate and felt that the best way to do that would be to go to them at a time when they are already available.”
As a result of this brainstorming, The Book Group began. For the past two years, Finlay and Martin have been meeting with Caribou High School students in the CHS library during the students’ lunch period. Each month, the group reads a book, either the same title or a book of choice from a particular genre and then share their thoughts about the book during the next meeting. Discussion ranges from serious to the lighthearted, but regardless of the topic, there is always room for everyone.
“One of the things I enjoy most about the group is the relaxed and welcoming atmosphere,” said Finlay, a library media specialist at CHS, “there is no pressure and no judgement.”
Recently The Book Group, which included 11 students, celebrated Read Across America Day with a grant from the Maine Education Association. Read Across America Day is a celebration of Dr. Seuss’s birthday, whose books group members read growing up.
The Book Group is open to all Caribou High School students. Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of each month during 4th and 5th period and students are encourage to bring their lunch.
For more information, contact Finlay at 493-4260 or Martin at 493-4214.
