September 25, 2020 | Alyssa Y
"Reading more" often tops the list of new year's resolutions, school year resolutions, summer vacation resolutions, weekend resolutions... but how best to do it? For some people, they want to read a book a week or a book a month; others want to build a habit of reading for a certain amount of time each day. In this post, we'll look at a few apps and solutions that might get you reading more.
Making it a habit
The most surefire way to get yourself reading more books is to make regular reading a habit. Check out our post all about habit-building.
Reading Timers
Reading timers, meant to build a habit of reading, are built on the simple premise that more time read makes you a reader. A reading timer could be as simple as a normal stopwatch or timer, a bookmark that keeps time, or an app that logs books and time read in each book.
The use of these apps really depends on what type of reader you are. Personally, this librarian found that timers made me read less often than before, because each reading session turned into more of a to-do. Some people find that, particularly with children, a timer that goes off can cut off a perfectly good reading session prematurely, or makes it more difficult to read for the sake of reading.
Book Lists / Social Media
If you've ever wanted to read a book and later forgot what book it was you wanted to read, or can't remember if you've already read it, then these tools are for you!
These apps can be wonderful ways to keep track of books you've read or want to read. "I think it had a blue cover" suddenly has a name to it, and that can make all the difference between a book you can pick up and read and a book you think you saw one time.
E-books: the book you can take anywhere
E-books promise a portability that paper books cannot, letting you easily carry thousands of books in your pocket so you can find the right book for the right mood at any time. Going on a vacation? An e-book would be perfect for the plane, for the car ride (audiobooks count!), for the cozy cabin... you name it. E-books are particularly helpful if you're a fast reader or if you like different books depending on your mood.
OverDrive (Libby app)
Check Out popular e-books and e-audiobooks 
E-books and e-audiobooks can be borrowed for up to 21 days, and will be returned automatically after the due date. All you need is your CPL card to check out and put items on hold. You can read or download them on your computer and a wide variety of devices.
Checkout limit: 10
Cloud Library
Check Out popular e-books and e-audiobooks
Find the newest e-audiobooks. E-books and e-audiobooks can be borrowed for up to 21 days, and will be returned automatically after the due date. All you need is your CPL card to check out and put items on hold. You can read or download them on your computer and a wide variety of devices.
Checkout limit: 10
hoopla
Check Out popular movies, music, e-books, e-comics and e-audiobooks
Stream movies, music, books and audiobooks with your Canton Public Library card. You can download the free hoopla digital mobile app on your Android or iOS device or visit hoopla to begin enjoying thousands of titles from major Hollywood studios, record companies and publishers. They are available to borrow for instant streaming or temporary downloading to your smartphone, tablet and computer, and can even be sent to your car stereo or television using a bluetooth connection, ChromeCast, Apple TV or other technology.
Checkout limit: 20 per month
RBdigital
Check Out popular magazines
Access over 3,600 popular magazines online and enjoy them from cover-to-cover on your PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone, or Android device. Instructions on getting started are available for download.
Finding a book that works for you
One of the best ways to get yourself reading more is finding a book you like. Life is too short for bad books! Rather than forcing yourself to read a book that you just don't like, may we suggest reaching out to one of our librarians, who can provide you with a curated list of books just for you?
We have three different flavors of May We Suggest:
- May We Suggest Classic (Get a book recommendation in 3-5 days)
- May We Suggest EXPRESS (Get a book recommendation in 2-3 days and it will magically appear on the hold shelf for you)
- May We Suggest Kids (Get book recommendations specifically for kids!)
Join a book club
Joining a book club can be a great way to encourage yourself to read more, with the added benefits of connection, discussion, and reading things outside of your comfort zone. Plus, the little bit of added pressure of a deadline can make all the difference between a book that sits half-read and a book you complete.
The Canton Public Library offers four different book clubs, each meeting virtually via Zoom. You can join the Adult Contemporary Book Discussion Group, the Canton Seniors Book Discussion Group, Lunch and a Book, and/or the Nonfiction Book Group.
Have a group of friends with whom you'd like to start or continue a book club? The Canton Public Library also offers Book Club-in-a-Bag, a kit of 10 books with bonus materials for facilitating conversations. You can check out our selection of Book Club-in-a-Bag kits here.
Final Verdict: How do I really get reading more?
It's not the most satisfying answer, but really... it depends. It all depends on what type of reader you are, what your preferences are, and what makes you tick.
For this librarian, I love a good streaming audiobook (CloudLibrary), getting recommendations from a librarian, and using psychology to build habits. My to-read list on Goodreads is longer than I could possibly read, but it makes me feel better knowing it's there. Reading timers just don't work for my style of reading.
The real answer is... try things out! Experiment! You are your best guide here, but remember that you can always reach out to our expert librarians if you need any help or inspiration.