This column has creative ideas on how to finish the 2025 OPL Reading Challenge and appeared in the Nov. 9, 2025, edition of the Omaha World-Herald (NE). It is also available at Omaha.com (opens in a new tab).
Time is ticking to finish the 2025 Omaha Public Library Reading Challenge
As we finally feel the fall chill in the air and prepare for the end of the year, one thought is looming large for OPL’s bookish community: The clock is ticking on the 2025 Omaha Public Library Reading Challenge.
It’s time for a progress check! There’s a little under two months left to check off all 12 categories and qualify for your earned prize pin and entry into the gift card drawing.
The OPL Reading Challenge is designed not just to encourage reading but to push you beyond your comfort zone and introduce you to new literary horizons.
And if you’re stuck? We’ve all been there — staring down a handful of challenging categories with the holidays fast approaching. Fear not. The solution is often a matter of strategy and finding the right format.
Here are a few tips and recommendations from OPL staff to help you cross the finish line by Dec. 31.
The plan
Go for a quick category win: If you’re looking for a jump-start to gain momentum, start with a challenge that seems most approachable to you — the low-hanging fruit. For example, “Read a book with a one-word title” can be applied across all genres and reading tastes! Knocking out one of these challenges can provide the momentum you need to tackle the rest.
Leverage the power of the graphic novel: One of this year’s most accessible categories is “Read a nonfiction or biographical graphic novel.” These titles are visually engaging, often have a quicker pace and provide a quick yet meaningful dive into history, science or a life story. There’s also no reason why you couldn’t utilize a graphic novel to fulfill any of the other categories. This annual challenge is what you make of it!
Shift formats for speed: Remember, the challenge allows reading physical books, eBooks or listening to audiobooks. If time is your obstacle, utilize the Libby app and check out an audiobook. Whether you are driving, doing dishes or taking a fall walk through your neighborhood, an audiobook allows you to multitask your way to completion. Catch up on reading while you catch up on something else.
Libby tip: When searching the app for audiobooks by availability, format or genre, you can also filter by audiobook duration. So if you want to find a science fiction audiobook, available now and less than four hours long, you can search for that!
The goal: cozying up
Our greatest hope is that you find joy in the simple act of reading, a practice we know strengthens the mind and soul of our community.
This year’s final category, “Read a book in the cozy subgenre,” provides the perfect impetus to settle in for the season. While the challenge specifies titles that are lighthearted, often featuring amateur sleuths and low-stakes drama (think cozy mysteries), we encourage all Omahans to embrace the spirit of cozy reading.
Recommendations for a cozy read:
Find your comfort: Whether it’s a new fantasy, an old favorite or a mystery where the cat is the sidekick (this is practically its own subgenre of cozies), choose a book that feels like a warm blanket.
Set the scene: The perfect reading environment includes a warm beverage, a comfortable chair (try the reading nooks at your local OPL branch!) and a total commitment to quiet time.
Embrace the subgenre: Look for titles specifically categorized as cozy mysteries, cozy fantasy or cozy romance at the Library. These books are guaranteed to leave you feeling satisfied, with all plot threads neatly resolved.
The OPL Reading Challenge is a friendly gauntlet thrown down at the beginning of the year. Now, as the year closes, it becomes a testament to your personal commitment to learning and exploration.
Gather your reading materials, make your plan and visit your Omaha Public Library branch — virtually or in person — before the final pages of the year are turned. We are rooting for you.
About Omaha Public Library
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