Archive: Opinions

The love and skill of reading is said to be one of the most important things we can have in life. It opens a large part of the world to us that we couldn't begin to imagine without the ability to read. While we know there is illiteracy in the world, it is hard to imagine what it would be like to actually be illiterate. The things we would miss. The things we wouldn't even know we are missing.

That's why it is so important to support the Lansing Library, and to appreciate the volunteers there as well as the school librarians. Strong programs promote reading throughout the year in Lansing, and they really pay off. You should have seen the Middle School students respond to visiting author Gordon Korman Thursday morning. You'd have loved seeing the Kindergarteners' first library visit. And the fact that the Library's Summer Reading Program yielded over 1000 books read was outstanding.

Reading can be an end in itself, but it is so much more.  It is a means to so many ends.  It can provide pleasure, knowledge, insight and understanding.  Even in our news bite/blurb society it is important to be able to read and to parse the onslaught of information and hyperbole.  

It is a good thing our community places such a high value on it, though there is always more we can do.

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