DALTON, Mass. — The library is making book enthusiasts nostalgic thanks to its adult reading challenge that encourages people to expand their horizons in the literature world. 

 

Many may remember, from their school years, being challenged to read for a chance to win a pizza or, for this writer, a school trip to the cinema to watch their book come alive on screen. 

 

The Dalton Free Public Library has reawakened that experience for its patrons 18 and older until March 27 at 1 p.m. 

 

Visit the library to get your game board and after reading a book let library staff know to get your raffle ticket or track your progress online. 

 

Readers can choose any book they like as long as it aligns with one of the options in the three categories: Who, With What, and Where. 

 

Every book that fits a subcategory earns you a raffle ticket, and if you complete all the subcategories within a section, you’ll score a bonus ticket. 

 

The more you read and explore, the better your chances of winning one of the three raffle baskets, each a $100 value. The cost of the baskets were donated by the Friends of the Dalton Library. 

 

While the categories provide structure, their broadness means your reading options are nearly limitless. A single book may fit several categories, but you can only count it once, Library Director, Janet Forest said.  

 

"If someone comes in and they've read a book, we try to find a category to fit it into. We're advocating for reading, not trying to be restrictive, but also, like I said, we're trying to challenge people to read something maybe they haven't before," she said. 

 

In addition to the challenge, the library will be hosting reading challenge events, including two tea party reading hours, a screening of the 1985 film "Clue," and a mystery writing workshop. 

 

The library is a welcoming, nonjudgmental space offering a wealth of resources beyond books. These initiatives and events inspire people to return, even if it’s been a while since their last visit, Forest said. 

 

Many visitors return to the library after a long absence and are pleasantly surprised by the wide array of offerings, from printing and computers to DVDs and much more, she said. 

 

The events also provide ample opportunity for people to expand their horizons by speaking to those with different interests. 

 

The aim is "to help them expand their curiosity and the things they are curious about. This is a way to invite people to read something they haven't maybe read before, or a genre they haven't tried before. Maybe they don't like it; but at least they tried it," Forest said. 

 

If they discover they enjoy the genre, it can spark excitement in reluctant readers and open up a world of possibilities for those who already love to read, she said.

 

Readers are invited to visit the library for the reading hours on Friday, Feb. 6, at 10 a.m., and on Tuesday, Feb. 17, at 5:30 p.m., to immerse themselves in a good book, savor the bibliophilia, and bask in the peaceful silence of the library.

 

When the library is bustling, it’s alive with the sounds of community — conversations, children’s laughter, and the joy of discovering new stories together.

 

However, the silent reading hours is a time where visitors can experience the library when it is quiet. 

 

"I think people like gathering without the pressure around it, without the structure and having to do something…and so I just love the idea of giving a group of people the option to come into our library and have it be quiet, and sit and read, because it's a beautiful space, and when it is quiet, it's so peaceful, and just get comfortable and enjoy a good book," Forest said. 

 

The screening of "Clue" will take place on Sunday, Feb. 22 at 3 p.m. and the mystery writing workshop will be on Thursday, March 5 at 6 p.m.