The Value of Reading

The staff at Centennial Securities, the Title Sponsor for our Literary Libations Gala. loves doing good work in the community… and they love reading, too!

Jeff Wierenga
Senior Vice President

I read often, and yet I still read the least in my family.

I prefer to read non-fiction, especially biographies and books about the financial world.

My favorite authors are James Andrew Miller (former Literary Libations guest), Adam Grant and Walter Isaacson.

My favorite books are Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition by Daniel Okrent, The Price You Pay for College by Ron Lieber and The Storyteller by Dave Grohl.

When our kids were younger, we used to attend storytimes and other library programs for younger kids. Now, I have kids who are teen volunteers and help with those same programs.

One of our children looks forward to the first of every month when he can use his refreshed monthly allotment of Hoopla borrows. We have also used the library PerkPass and the Michigan Activity Pass in the past. I have family members who have checked out hotspots because internet access is unavailable where they live.

I’m a big believer in the saying, “Leaders are readers.” If there’s a leader you look up to, odds are they are a voracious reader.

Ingrid Bergsma
Client Relations Coordinator

I like to read non-fiction, suspense, classics, chick-lit, memoirs and fiction. I love summer beach settings for my summer reading.

I have a wide variety of favorite titles, some of which include Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Perfect Storm by Sebastian Junger and Open by Andre Agassi.

A close friend from college and I recently reconnected, and something we have adopted is choosing a book to both read and then chat about when we next speak – a mini-book club of sorts. It has been a sweet little addition to our rekindled friendship!

I listen to audiobooks all the time! Having access to audiobooks through the Libby app has really helped me keep my “reading” going during seasons when I just can’t get some time to sit down with a book. I always have a book going when I am in the car. I also listen when I am cleaning or doing projects around the house.

Reading makes a person more informed about the world, other points of view, other locales, etc. It can create common threads between you and a stranger you just met.

I feel like a well-read person has much more to add to conversations and work projects. Reading also creates interest in things you might not naturally wonder about. It’s fun to learn more about things that are going on outside of my own world.

Kim Ross
Receptionist

I like to read historical fiction, Christian fiction, Christian non-fiction and romance.

A couple of my favorite authors are Terri Blackstock and Karen Kingsbury.

Reading gives insight into places I would like to go. Reading self-help books gives knowledge into an area of life that I am working to improve.

I like to check out movies from the library.

Reading is a great way to find answers or go on an adventure!