Givens reads to ‘tweens’

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November 11, 2009

By LISA SIMPSON STRANGE The Glasgow Daily Times Wed Nov 11, 2009, 11:51 AM CST

GLASGOW — State Senator David Givens (R-Greensburg) made time in his legislative schedule Tuesday evening to read to a group of “tweens,” 8- to 12-year-olds, at the local library.

“Two of my most favorite things are reading and going to the library,” he told the children and adults gathered at Mary Wood Weldon Memorial Public Library for the reading.

Givens stressed the importance of the ability to read as a stepping stone for children to be successful in life.

“It is such a foundational component of learning. Being good readers ultimately opens up so much opportunity in learning and achievement,” he said.

The senator chose “The Legend of Spud Murphy,” by Irish author, Eoin Colfer, to entertain and engage his listeners. He said he and his wife, Lynne, began reading to their three children, Hannah, 12, Matthew, 9, and Michael, 7, early on.

“I’m fortunate. My wife and I read a lot to our three children at an early age and they are avid readers,” he said.

Givens said he realized parents have the heavy responsibility of molding the people their children will turn out to be.

“One of the things I’ve always struggled with as a parent is knowing that despite my best intentions my children are going to grow up limited by the reality I create for them,” he said. “And that’s both good and bad because there are certainly things we want to prevent children from knowing or being interested in, but at the same time knowing that the reality that I create is going to someday be their reality. I hope to create for them just a beautiful, bountiful, deep, rich, broad opportunity and reading is the way to do that.”

Givens has also been a lifelong reader and is thankful for the influential people in his life that made him so.

“I grew up reading and thoroughly enjoying reading with authors ranging from John Steinbeck, occasionally Stephen King, a lot of fiction, historical biography, John Irving. I was fortunate to have teachers who encouraged me to read and the library is a wonderful resource.

“Glasgow and Barren County are so fortunate to have this facility here and I’m proud by the activity. Every time that I’m in, I see lots of people using the facility. It’s a thrill to see people reading, see people utilizing the resources here and this community blessed to have this,” Givens said.

Marla Ford, library service associate, said this is the second year for the program locally. The Tween Book Explorers meet the second Tuesday of each month from 6 to 7 p.m. The next meeting will be Dec. 8.

For more information, call 651-2824 or e-mail mford(at)glasgow-ky.com

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