The Slippery Rock Community Library is pictured in June 2023. Eagle File Photo

To expand your horizons and get out of your comfort zone, look no further than your local library.

A visit to the library can be a springboard to finding new titles and book recommendations.

If you find yourself in a literary rut, start with a fresh reading list at the library, or one curated by the Washington Post, Time Magazine or the New York Times, said Dianne McCauley, adult services librarian at the Butler Area Public Library.

The book bundle program at the Zelienople Area Public Library also offers hand-picked recommendations from librarians.

“(Library cardholders) tell us how many books they want, give us a subject, genre or author they like, and we can get books organized for them,” said Amy Kellner, adult services librarian at the Zelienople Area Public Library.

If you’re struggling to carve out time from your schedule to read what’s been on your list for months, start small.

“Usually, it’s the same thing you’d tell children — 30 minutes a day of reading,” McCauley said.

To make progress on a reading goal when you’re pressed for time, Kellner advises trying a format other than print. Engaging with literature can look like listening to an audiobook or podcast during your commute or when you exercise, she said.

“Reading doesn’t have to involve a book,” McCauley said. “It can be a newspaper, a magazine, a professional journal article or reading on your device. The more you read, the more you absorb, the quicker you read and the quicker you find new things to read.”

You can keep track of your reading list in a small notebook, or record it online by logging into your library account, McCauley said.

Joining a book club, at the library or online, or starting your own, also can get you reading something you otherwise may not have picked up.

For those who want to start a book club with ease, the Butler library offers 100 book-club-to-go kits complete with discussion questions.

Among the benefits of starting your own book club is also the chance to reflect, discuss and socialize in a group.

“A lot of times book clubs rotate to other people’s houses, and you can have dinner or make a dish based on the book,” McCauley said. “You can make it a party atmosphere or get really serious with it and a have a big, lengthy discussion on the literary merits of the chosen book.”