2 . Borrowing Policies

The Henry G. Bennett Memorial Library provides materials and services to meet the information needs of graduate and undergraduate students, face-to-face and online learners as well as teachers and community members.

Borrowing for Students

General Collection: 21 days (fall and spring); 14 days (summer)

Curriculum Collection: 7 days (fall and spring); 7 days (summer)

Borrowing for Teachers

General Collection: 90 days (fall and spring); 90 days (summer)

Curriculum Collection: 90 days (fall and spring); 90 days (summer)

OK-Share Card

Any teachers or students of any OK-Share institution may use the collections of any OK-Share library on site. Upon completion of the OK-Share card application at their home library, teachers or students will be given an OK-Share card.

Services

OK-Share card borrowers are allowed two books in their possession at one time. Electronic tools may not be available to the OK-Share card borrowers.

Inform the library you use immediately if your card is lost or stolen. A $5.00 charge for a second OK-Share card must be paid to the lending library.

Books should be returned to the library where the library materials were borrowed. Materials returned by mail should be sent by first-class, insured mail. Materials sent by post office must be insured for at least $100.

Billing

The library is not responsible for informing borrowers that materials are overdue. OK-Share card borrowers are billed for fines for materials returned late.

6 . There are numerous benefits of reading good books.     1     Whatever your field might be, it’s very important to create a good habit to read beyond your horizons. Here are tips to help you cultivate a better and consistent reading habit:

Determine your reading goal.     2    . This goal should be clear and backed up with a purpose. Start by thinking about how a consistent reading pattern can help you grow indifferent areas of your life-spirit, academics, career, relationships and more.

    3    . Once you’re done setting your reading goal for the year, you’ll need a list to back it up. Write out a list of the amazing books you want to read. Ask for recommendations from friends and instructors. It’s important to keep a journal listing the books you’ll like to read for each month.

Get a responsible reading partner to promote your reading. Goals need to be backed up in order to help put a check and encourage you during times you don’t feel motivated.     4    , and create a plan to help you achieve your reading goals.

To develop a reading culture, you must first analyze your current reading habits. Do you read at all?     5    ? In order to truly achieve your reading goals and build a consistent reading habit, you’ll need to set up simple systems, find responsible partners, and generally be hungry to grow beyond your comfort zone.

7 . That youngsters were glued to online games on their smart phones was a great concern for Ngurang Meena, a school teacher in Nirjuli.The 30­year­old social science teacher, who ran the Ngurang Learning Institute, an adult literacy centre, said that she felt disheartened when she read student papers.“The graph of student performance is falling every year.It breaks my heart whenever I see answer sheets — basic grammar skills are missing and there’s an absence of any cohesive (连贯的) expression.They lack guidance and their reading culture is almost zero,” Meena said.When her school and the centre she ran had to close due to infectious diseases, she planned to do something to address the   problem.

Inspired by a similar proposal in Mizoram, Meena set up a bookshelf with around 80 books as well as some benches on the side of the road in Nirjuli on 30 August 2020, where passers­by could spend time reading.The selections included motivational books, biographies and novels as well as comics for young children.“I have to please the minors with sweets to sit and read, but that is okay,” she laughed.

Meena’s bookshelf became a hit among youngsters who spent hours in the reading corner.Within two months, her effort became the talk of the town.

Now, generous contributions of books come in from the public and she is even receiving requests to set up such libraries in other parts of the state, including one in the capital, Itanagar.Since the tiny libraries are far from the main town, she also lends books out to those who want to read at home.

“I never thought that this would become such a big inspiration,” Meena said.“Since childhood, we have been told that books are our best friends.The next generation of kids is focused on games and other things.I don’t want them to head on the wrong track,” she added.

8 . How to Motivate Teens to Read

With lots of studies showing the benefits of reading, how can teachers motivate their students to open a good book or power up their e-readers?

Lead by Example

Require students to spend at least 20 minutes in independent reading every day.

    1    , teachers show that they consider reading very important. Therefore, they always find time to read even though they are terribly busy.

Freedom to Choose

    2    . For those who forget their books, provide them with access to novels, magazines or newspapers during required reading time. Consider allowing students to use their personal e-readers.

Share Your Excitement

Teachers’ excitement for a particular book may have a huge influence on their students. Give students a taste of what the book is about.     3    , suggest your favorite.

Visit the Library

Make time to visit the school library and require students to borrow at least one book of interest.     4    . By doing so, they can make sure the book fits their interests.

Stay Informed

Teachers can help motivate students by finding out the latest popular young adult reading matter, such as “The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins and the “Uglies” by Scott Westerfeld.

With varied activities competing for students’ time and attention, it can be difficult to encourage youngsters to read.     5    .

Teachers who make independent reading a daily part of the classroom experience and find creative ways to motivate their students may be on the way to writing a success story.

When I was a kid, I prefer to stay at home and read various picture books. I’d burst in laughter or frown with concern about the characters but the plot in the books. Later in life, I was absorbing in the world of words, where I found me seeing the world through different roles. While reading, I even learned how behave in the real world. Even though I met with a plenty of difficulties, nothing could prevent me from reading. Frank speaking, I harvested a lot from reading. It provided me with knowledges of different fields. Besides, it convinced me that living alone did not mean be lonely.