Reading Merit Badge

[ScoutMomGWRC]

Does the scout have to start reading "new" books for this badge or can he discuss with the counselor books that he has read in the past.

I think that he has to read 6 books going forward because of the requirement about keeping a log.

[FrankJ]

It would have to be books he has read since he became a scout. Other than that if he had read the books fairly recently so could create the log or had a log that he kept maybe for school would be reasonable to me. Most scouts will learn how to use a library in school. Remember that although the rule is no more no less, the point is to develop a skill set and passion. While it is best to do with both, I tend to go with the point rather than the rule. Beware, people around here will tell you that I am a renegade.

[deweylure]

Most scouts I have for reading use current books they have read. Surprisingly most do not read the books for a school assignment ,but for recreation . i agree the books should be read as a scout

Dewey

[smtroop168]

The only "rules" are "All merit badge requirements must be met while a registered Boy Scout or Varsity Scout, or a qualified Venturer or Sea Scout. Accomplishments before joining, or while a Cub Scout, do not apply." and "though a few merit badges may have certain restrictions; short of them, any registered Scout may work on any one of them at any time, as long as he has the approval of his unit leader on a blue card."

[Quailman]

ScoutMom: It is up to the Merit Badge Counselor to determine whether the scout has met the requirements. In this case, requirements 1 b, c and d say "b.With the assistance of your merit badge counselor or a librarian, select six books...", "c. ...With your counselor's or a librarian's assistance, locate the books...", and "d.Read each book."

That certainly looks like he should read library books. If I were the MBC, I think I'd allow books he had read currently and meet him at the library to see that he knows how to locate books on the shelves.

Also specified is that he needs to read at least one award-winning book.

I would also tell the scout that if he wanted to include anime or graphic novels as a genre that he needed to find a new MBC, but that's just me.

[FrankJ]

So does that mean that he should read only books he checked out from the library for the merit badge? Or that he should only read books that might be in a library. Does it need to be a public library? A bricks and mortar kind of place? Can he use a kindle or equivalent? What if he goes online and checks out an electronic copy of a book? Are our schools so bad that you can get to 11 and not know how to look up a book in a library? Just some silly questions that a good MBC will need to know the answer to.

[Quailman]

So does that mean that he should read only books he checked out from the library for the merit badge?

The requirements say nothing about checking the books out. He may read them in the library.

Or that he should only read books that might be in a library.

it looks that way.

Does it need to be a public library? A bricks and mortar kind of place? Can he use a kindle or equivalent? What if he goes online and checks out an electronic copy of a book?

These are up to the MBC.

Are our schools so bad that you can get to 11 and not know how to look up a book in a library?

Not all requirements are expected to be new skills for all scouts. This is another case where the scout could use something he learned at achool to meet the requirement.

[smtroop168]

As with any MB, you can send in any suggestions or revisions to the requirements:

Through a process managed by the National Advancement Team, all merit badges are reviewed periodically to improve relevance, consistency, and requirement and content accuracy. Merit badge counselors, unit leadership, parents, and youth are encouraged to send suggestions or comments to merit.badge@scouting.org. All submissions are reviewed and considered as merit badges and pamphlets come up for revision. Feedback has been invaluable in correcting errors, updating material, and enhancing content.

[SoCal76]

Req 1d says to keep a log and to use that log as a reference. How can a Scout keep a log on a book he read earlier - maybe years earlier?

I'd allow graphic novels and manga (anime in print). Some are quite good and win awards (the Will Eisner Award comes to mind) for Req 1b.

I say it's OK to read a book he has at home, as long as he can find it in a library (Req 1c).

[FrankJ]

My son was a prolific reader in grade school & middle school. The school system had reading logs that where required to be filled out. He read far more than the logs required, but hated having to keep up with it. The logs had a negative effect in his case. Hind site being what it is, if I had to do it over again, I would have just filled them out and signed it off. Not much to do reading merit badge. Other than if I was a councilor and I was confident the scout was reading the books, I would be very liberal in the reading log.