Read on

In an age when there are so many demands for our attention, reading sometimes gets a low priority. But visit the Cape Girardeau Public Library and see how many adults and children are checking out books. Reading also is getting a boost this month from two well-organized community events: the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Read-a-Thon that is a part of Black History Month, and the ninth annual United We Read events.

The Black History Month Read-a-Thon is organized by Dr. Marcia Brown Haims, a professor at Southeast Missouri State University. It is one of several events during February focusing on black history. Check for these special events on semoevents.com or the featured events in the semoevents.com calendar on Page 2A of the Southeast Missourian.

The United We Read events center on "Columbine," a book by Dave Cullen that features 10 years of research regarding the 1999 school shooting in Colorado. Julia Jorgensen, librarian at Central High School, is the coordinator of United We Read. Again, check semoevents.com or the Southeast Missourian for details about these events.

It's good to know that community efforts such as these promote reading, encourage thoughtful discussions of important issues and connect us to the history that has shaped our world.