The Clearwater, Becker, and Big Lake Libraries all have even more to offer their communities for the new year. Along with no longer collecting fines on overdue materials, each of them is now offering expanded hours, winter reading programs, and upcoming events.

Library patrons have long wished their local libraries were open more often throughout the week, and now that wish has been granted, with the new year bringing with it expanded hours for all three area libraries.

The Clearwater Library is now open longer on Mondays, with their hours expanding to 1 to 6 p.m. The Becker Library is also open longer on Mondays as well as Thursdays and Fridays, with each day expanded by one hour. Becker’s new times are Monday 1 to 7 p.m., Thursdays 1 to 7 p.m., and Fridays 1 to 5 p.m.

The Big Lake Library now offers three additional hours on Tuesdays, with open hours from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Their Thursday hours were shifted to 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

GRRL’s annual Winter Reading Program started on Jan. 3 and runs through February 28. This year’s theme is “Books Like Us.” The program provides fun incentives for readers to settle into winter reading habits and is designed primarily for teens and adults; the program is open to anyone in the sixth grade and older. 

Readers can register for the program at their local library, on the GRRL website (griver.beanstack.org), or on the Beanstack Tracker app, which can be downloaded in the app store. Patrons can then participate by using the traditional paper reading log or by going online and using Beanstack. 

There’s also a fun winter program for kids up to 11 years old. Called “Page Turners,” the program challenges kids to read 500 pages before the end of February and offers them chances to earn online badges as they do so.

The new year also brings with it a yearlong challenge for readers aged 12 and up. Called ‘Year in Reading: 2022”, participants follow monthly themes to explore new booklists and activities that go along with them. Badges can be earned each month when three monthly activities are completed. For an added challenge, readers can log the books they read all year long, with a special challenge to read 60 books by the end of 2022. 

To help fight cabin fever even further, patrons can choose from a variety of great programs from all three libraries. For more information go to the GRRL events calendar at griver.org/events.