Sharing joy in reading to (hopefully) reverse its decline

An interesting column in the latest Phi Kappa Phi Forum talked about the decline of reading for pleasure in the United States. To address this decline I think it’s important for those of us who love reading, to willingly make ourselves visible as readers. And so here are two ways that I try to promote a reading culture among young people at the library where I work.
https://youtu.be/T5KtBbgEqeo

Book-Talk: An Accident of Dragons by Cheri Radke

In my latest Book-Talk: Cheri Radke’s epic fantasy, An Accident of Dragons, focuses on a middle-aged protagonist who by appearances seems to have achieved his “happy ending.” But now Teddy, a.k.a. Lord Summer, has to lead an expedition from his island kingdom to the mainland to recover his kidnapped daughter. Through first-person narration, Teddy tells his story with sophisticated and beautiful language.
https://youtu.be/pktDXslBM_4

Video tutorial: Locating books with the library’s online catalog

Here is a video tutorial about how to use the school library’s online catalog to look for books in the library. I’m asking teachers to consider sharing and reviewing this process with their students because being able to locate books through a library’s online catalog is an important life-skill.
https://youtu.be/Bm5jZz_I1TA

UCM’s Graduate Student Achievement Award

I am the appreciative recipient of a Graduate Student Achievement Award, as selected for 2025-2026 at the University of Central Missouri. With this video, I want to express my gratitude.
https://youtu.be/X_OvPf08_98

Book-Talk: Wish I Was a Baller by Amar Shah

I’d recommend this graphic-format memoir to a variety of young readers: especially kids who love sports, who aspire to careers in journalism, maybe even to kids who combine both interests.
https://youtu.be/7fSr8qYfONg