Do you agree with these reasons for loving books?

“They don’t require batteries or charging, you can read them in the bathtub, you can take them through airport security without worry, they entertain for hours not just minutes, there are no age limits with books, you can lend them to friends, they don’t go out of fashion, books take readers on amazing journeys, books smell lovely, they make great gifts and they are easy to wrap, reading reduces stress, and … reading books can make you smarter.”

I found this list on a website called goodreads.com. It’s a good site for book suggestions and to see favorite authors — and get an idea of what to read next.

The next best thing to reading a book is sharing a book. Do you know about the Little Free Library groups? Little Free Library was started in 2009 by Todd Bol and Rick Brooks of Hudson and Madison, Wisconsin, respectively. It became an official 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2012. There are Little Free Libraries in over 70 countries; the movement continues to grow.

These libraries aren’t housed in your normal, everyday buildings. These are enclosed in small wooden boxes, usually attached to a post or wall. The concept is that anyone can take a book, then either bring it back after reading it or replace it with another book. If you look, you’ll see them just about everywhere — along jogging trails, near supermarkets and even near airports or train stations. If you are interested in putting one up or just want more information, go to www.littlefreelibrary.org/start and get information to help you start your own Little Free Library.

We in Kitsap County are so lucky to have a great library system. One of the many events at Kitsap Regional Library branches worth noting is their book groups. The library furnishes books for the group, each participant reads the book in the comfort of their home, then comes back to the library to discuss the story with others in the group.

The books can be chosen by the library, but also through input from group members. What fun it is to meet and talk to others who either loved the book you just read or to get opinions from readers who have other thoughts. You can find a list of these book groups by going to krl.org/events. Some meetings take place in the day; some are in the evenings, so you can pick a time and location most convenient to your schedule.

And finally, did you know Liberty Bay Books has a book group called Liberty Bay Mystery Book Club, as well as one called Cover to Cover? Go to libertybaybooks.com for more information. Also, Eagle Harbor Books offers book groups, too. They are called EHB Readers Circle, Mystery Book Group and Speculative Fiction Book Group.

Go to eagleharborbooks.com to find out details.

Happy reading!

— Donna Lee Anderson can be contacted at welltold tales@aol.com.