by Ingrid Mattson
Orcas Island Public Library director
I hate to say it, but I take reading for granted. It’s always come naturally to me, so I did it a lot. Who doesn’t lean into the thing they do best, avoiding the more difficult tasks?
That said, teaching and helping my own kids learn has taught me a lot about the different ways people learn and retain information. Just because reading isn’t easy for everyone doesn’t mean everyone shouldn’t have access to books, learning and an opportunity to participate in the conversation.
Happily, I’m not alone in the library world with this view.
October is Dyslexia Awareness Month. Orcas Island Public Library strives to support adults and children with learning differences, including those with dyslexia. Individuals with dyslexia/dysgraphia sometimes prefer to read and learn using audio and visual materials instead of text. To that end, we gladly offer:
• Scanmarker Pal(c) text reading pen available for checkout.
• Board games that teach reading skills in a dyslexia-supportive manner.
• Digital audiobooks available for checkout via Libby and physical audiobooks on CD.
• Large print books in the adult collection.
• E-books available for checkout via Libby: Most e-readers can convert e-book font to Dyslexie, a more readable font for some with dyslexia, and e-readers allow for increased font size.
• Comprehensive collection of books on dyslexia and dyslexia advocacy for parents and caregivers.
• An extensive collection of educational and documentary videos available for checkout and/or streaming on Kanopy for visual learners.
We encourage you to explore multiple formats (book and audiobook) simultaneously, if this is helpful for you. At the library, we understand that you don’t have to read printed text to read a book! If you need assistance finding materials or if other services would be of use to you or your family member with dyslexia or other learning differences, please reach out to us. Remember, you are welcome to make purchase requests for digital audiobooks and e-books to check out on the Libby app, just as you would for physical materials.
We’re also big fans of the Washington Talking Book and Braille Library, which makes literary resources available to folks with vision problems, difficulty holding books for long periods, cognitive challenges and a host of other reasons why perhaps you’ve stopped reading of late.
Conversely, perhaps you’ve shied away from reading of late because you’re mostly scrolling online or haven’t been able to find a new book to hook you. Stop by the library and check out our incredible collection, exercising your freedom to read. The Freedom to Read isn’t explicitly in the Bill of Rights, though perhaps it is inherently given that all powers not delegated to the federal government are reserved for the people or the states.
