QUINCY\/HANNIBAL (WGEM) – According to the National Endowment for the Arts, less than half of adults in the U.S. reported reading a book in the last year.<\/p>\n
But, Tri-State public libraries have found a way to buck that trend this summer.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe already know that kids have their Pizza Hut program and all sorts of awards for reading,\u201d said Rachelle Gage, Quincy Public Library\u2019s adult programming librarian. \u201cBut, what about the grown-ups?\u201d<\/p>\n
Gage started QPL\u2019s Book-It and Beer events in 2022 to get adults engaged in reading.<\/p>\n
\u201cLess and less people are reading for fun,\u201d Gage said. \u201cAnd that\u2019s really sad.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gage said adults who log at least seven hours of reading time on the Beanstack app will get a ticket to Book-It and Beer right outside of QPL.<\/p>\n
The family-friendly event is a free night of pizza, beer, games, and a raffle, with more books to check out with the new bookmobile parked outside.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been growing every year,\u201d Gage said. \u201cI love being able to award adult readers.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gage said for the first time in QPL\u2019s history, adult readers have read for more than 1 million minutes.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve read a lot more than we did last year,\u201d Gage said. \u201cA week ago, I ran the report, and we were at 870,000 minutes. We did a social media push to prompt people to keep reading… and they did it!\u201d<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the Hannibal Public Library and Mark Twain Museum are partnering up to host a monthlong \u201cBlind Date with a Book\u201d event for adult readers.<\/p>\n
\u201cEach book is wrapped in a brown paper bag,\u201d said Mark Schneider, the museum\u2019s marketing coordinator. \u201cWith a short description, whether it\u2019s suspense or adventure.\u201d<\/p>\n
Schneider said on Sept. 16, participants will gather at the Mark Twain Museum to discuss what they read, with the potential to trade books with one another.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe it\u2019s something that you never would have picked up because of the author,\u201d Schneider said. \u201cOr because of the picture on the front cover.\u201d<\/p>\n
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