Library on the Go: Apps for Reading

Disclosure

Can I ask you a question? When was the last time you picked up a book and read it? How about a newspaper? I think the last time I dedicated time to a good book was when we were on our cruise a couple years ago.

It isn’t that I don’t like to read, I simply don’t make time for it. If I’m going to be traveling or stuck waiting for the kids to finish a symphony rehearsal, sports practice or some lesson then I generally find myself surfing my iPhone 6, iPad or Surface.

There’s no reason I can’t be reading a book more often since, like 90% of the rest of smartphone owners, I rarely leave home without my phone. According to a recent U.S. Cellular study, that’s the new normal which means that there shouldn’t be an excuse for not having a book in hand. In this case, a digital one.

Did you know that March was National Reading Month? The schools focus on it and encourage kids to read. We shouldn’t lose sight of the fact we, as adults, should be reading also. Did you know that Amazon regularly offers free book downloads? Reading on your devices is as easy as downloading the right apps! I’ve used Flipboard since it launched and find it a nice way to aggregate my favorite sites and publications. Barnes and Noble offers NOOK eBook app providing access to more than 4 million books, graphic novels, comics and magazines, including features for kids. Of course, there are a many apps for reading including iBooks which is built into Apple devices so find one that works well for you and your reading style.

Speaking of kids, using apps like Homer and Hooked on Phonics enables children to learn how to read through games and videos. It’s always good to encourage them to visit the library, pick out books to meet their interests but at the same time we should utilize what they love – electronics – to further encourage these reading habits.

Madison and Kennedy enjoy reading when they can find a story that interests them. Isn’t that how it is for all of us? We’ve tried to encourage them to seek out new books at the library and yard sales as well as find ones they can digitally download.

With the use of a nationwide network like U.S. Cellular, reading is always right at your fingertips! If you’ll be traveling, just make sure you download any apps and reading materials before putting your phone in airplane mode. We recently took advantage of switching to U.S. Cellular’s unlimited plan so we don’t have to worry about whether we’ll have enough data available to download the another book if we finish the one we had been reading.

Reading is important for both adults and children so don’t be afraid to utilize electronics to fit it into your schedules.

What (and when) was the last time you read a book?