Reading in mid-winter

Everybody talks about summer reading, but what about winter reads?

When dark falls at 6 p.m. and the evening is long and quiet, sure, you can turn on the TV and watch another rerun episode of "The Big Bang Theory." Or you can pick up a book.

And if you need more reading incentive than a good book, cold weather, a blazing fire and an afghan (and a dog or a cat, and a cup of cocoa), here's some from your local library: The Winter Reads program, which runs metro-wide throughout January and February.

You can join in at the library, or in the coziness of your home.

1. Write and submit "winter reads" book reviews at your local library (and maybe win a prize!).

2. Share what you're reading online. Snap a selfie and hashtag it with #ireadthis on Twitter or Facebook or other social media.

3. Add star ratings and reviews on your library's website of what you're reading.

5. Check out a book club kit.

6. Attend an author talk.

7. Collect all four "winter reads" bookmarks from your library.

You can kick all this off from 6 to 9 p.m. Jan. 14 on Facebook, when library staff will discuss books and give book recommendations. Here's the Facebook page. "Like" them and join in the discussion.