JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. –
The third annual Department of Defense Summer Reading Program, "Reading is So Delicious" is currently underway at your Joint Base Charleston libraries. Registration continues through July 9.
"The goal of the library's Summer Reading Program is to encourage children to continue reading through the summer so they return to school in the fall at the same reading levels they were at in the spring," said Angela Aschenbrenner, Joint Base Charleston Libraries director.
"This year we expanded our programming for summer to include adults in an effort to tie our highly popular program with the Single Airman Initiative and the results have been amazing. Adult registrations are the second largest registration group and it's growing every day," said Aschenbrenner. "I think this also strengthens children and youth programs because seeing their parents reading will encourage the kids to read more."
"We tried to make the program more enticing to ages that are difficult to bring into the library, like teens, by switching to a point based system which allows them to earn points for attending programs and for checking out items like movies, magazines and other digital media ... however books still hold the highest point value," Angela Aschenbrenner.
Both the Air Base Library and the Weapons Station Branch Library have dozens of programs planned for the 2012 event.
"We have programs scheduled for all age groups and they will appeal to people with various interests," said Kaitlyn Harshman, Joint Base Charleston Libraries program coordinator. "Programs include demonstrations from the Charleston Area Beekeepers Association, to movie showings for all age groups, Teen Takeovers, boardgame nights and video-gaming nights. All programs are free to the base community."
"To embrace some of the expanded digital resources, the library stepped up this year's prizes," said Ashley Barrineau, Joint Base Charleston Libraries reference librarian. "We'll be giving away a Leap Frog Tag, a Leap Frog Leap-pad Explorer and Nook Simple Touches with gift cards for the two oldest age groups. Gifts will be awarded to top readers in each age group."
Reading is So Delicious will wrap up July 28 from noon to 2 p.m. at the Weapons Station Branch Library.
"I want our grand finale to be an event for the entire base community. It will be an excellent way to wind down our summer as we gear up for a major renovation project for the Weapons Station Branch Library," said Aschenbrenner. "I think our customers are going to be very excited about what will be coming from their Joint Base Charleston Libraries in the next year.
For a full listing of programs and events, calendars can be picked up at the library or on www.JBCharleston.com.