Submitted by the San Juan Island Library

The San Juan Island Library has been awarded $2,000 by the San Juan Island Community Foundation for two book groups that serve youth in the community. The funding, provided by the San Juan Island Women’s Fund, will help purchase over 200 books over the course of the next year that will be given to book group registrants.

The Library offers two book groups for young community members. The Middle School Book Group and the Upper Elementary Book Group, which together serve youth in 3rd-8th grades, provide free copies of a monthly book to up to 12 students each. Each month both groups meet in person and participants enjoy discussions, activities, and the occasional film adaptation.

Book Groups are essential library offerings that facilitate the growth of literacy and social skills. Participants are encouraged to converse openly and learn to navigate civil discourse in a non-academic setting, while simultaneously exploring a variety of literature for recreational reading purposes. According to one attendee: “The book group helps me find new book types and genres and it is very fun! I really appreciate what the library does in the events and I really liked the Maze Runner book group.”

For more information, or to register a young person for either book group, please visit www.sjlib.org, call 360-378-2798, or inquire at the front desk. Library staff are available for any questions you have. Library programs and cards are free of charge to San Juan Island residents. In addition to its collections of books, videos, equipment, games, audiobooks, and other materials to loan, the library also provides public access computers, WiFi, and a suite of databases that patrons can access in the library or at home. Library hours are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m and Sundays noon to 3 p.m.