Read Great Things Challenge

• A book of short stories or essays
• Someone else’s favorite book
• A book recommended by a celebrity book club
• A book that has won an award
• A book about nature or the great outdoors
• A book that is part of a series
• A bildungsroman [a novel focusing on the spiritual or psychological growth of the main character, often from childhood to adulthood; also called a coming-of-age novel]
• A book that has been translated into English from another language OR a book in a language other than English
• A controversial book, either currently or at some point in history
• A book with a one-word title
• A book about or that features voting or civic engagement
• A book suggested by a Durham Tech librarian either in-person or on the Durham Tech Library Blog

Based on Pew survey data that says Americans read an average of 12 books per year, the Above Average Reading Challenge was intended to encourage folks to read more than the average by completing 20 books in total (including whatever books were included in their Read Great Things 2020 Challenge list). 

Each year, winners of the Read Great Things Challenge can opt into getting a prize to celebrate their accomplishment.

The 2020 prize was a mask (a sign of the times, unfortunately) and bookmarks. The Above Average Reading Challenge prize was a button. Since we were mostly off-campus at this time, we mailed many prizes to winners' homes.