International Reading Association and Greater 1000 Islands Literacy Council member Sarah Parker Ada came up with a new way to promote the New York State Reading Association annual conference on October 28-30 in Liverpool.

In her YouTube video entitled “Read it Maybe (NYSRA 2012)” she encourages her community to read by parodying the popular song “Call Me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepsen. In the video, she changes Jepsen’s “here’s my number, so call me maybe” lyrics to “here's a book, now, so read it maybe.” The video was filmed in various locations, including the Roswell P. Flower Memorial Library in Watertown, New York. 

“I go to the Flower Memorial Library and check out books there all the time,” Ada shares in an article in the Watertown Daily Times. “Growing up, I always loved ‘Weird Al.’ I’ve chosen two songs that are pretty popular with teens. It’s speaks to kids more. It gets them more into it.”

Earlier this year, Ada posted a YouTube video entitled “If You Love to Read (NYSRA 2012)” which has received over 13,000 views. It is a parody of Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep,” changing “We could have had it all; (You're gonna wish you never had met me); rolling in the deep; (tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)” to “You can have it all; (I really wish you, you would read to me); if you love to read; (pages gonna turn, when you love to read).” 

Ada also plays a news anchor in the “NYSRA 2012 Conference Update” video on the NYSRA website.

Ada is an adjunct professor for freshman composition at Jefferson Community College and is getting a degree in secondary English education, which she describes as her passion.

“I’m hoping to do more videos like this,” she says.

We hope so too!

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