Win prizes, build community during the JBER Library Summer Reading Program

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Javier Alvarez
  • JBER Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  Registration for the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Library's Summer Reading Program is scheduled to begin June 1.

The JBER community will have the opportunity to collect prizes for time spent reading through the sports-themed program, said Jody Evans, JBER Library reference librarian. Additionally, library staff will host various outdoor activities in support of the program.

Participants can submit minutes read through the i-Read website where minutes logged between June 6 and July 15 will qualify them to win prizes, she said.

To register for the Summer Reading Program visit: http://usaf.evanced.info/jber/sr/homepage.asp

"Our goal is to keep [children] reading," Evans said. "Keep them practicing reading, and in that learning mode."

Children are more likely to retain or improve their reading level by participating in programs like the one presented, she said. They allow for a seamless transition into the next grade.

All registrants are eligible to collect a summer reading program shirt, Evans said. Early and pre-readers will be eligible to collect prizes after 100 minutes read, and every subsequent 100 minutes read will allow them to win up to five total prizes. Teens and adults can begin to collect prizes after they've logged 300 minutes.

Participants will have a variety of sports-theme and age-specific prizes to choose from, she said.

"The past few years we've had record numbers of registrants," Evans said. "Two years ago we had 971 people participate and last year we had about 950. I'd like to break 1000 this year."

The JBER library plans to provide more than just learning opportunities this summer.

Some activities scheduled are:
-June 9 Zumba class
-June 16 kickball and whiffleball.
-June 30 Troops vs. Children lawn games.
-July 7 Water balloon fight and fire department demonstration.
-July 14 A final activity to be announced.

"We try to partner with facilities like the fire department and Buckner gym," she said.

Free books will be available at some events, said Erica Glass, Blue Star Family Alaska chapter director.

"Military children have a really hard time when moving or in times of deployment," she said. "We have found the power of reading has a positive impact. Just getting to have a book ... has a positive impact for military [children] during difficult times."

With the anticipated volume of patrons the library is expecting this summer they have made some changes to the story times.

"Our regular story time will be on hiatus because of the busyness," Evans said. "Tuesday mornings through the summer we will have a 30-minute story time."

For more information on library events, visit the JBER Library or call 384-1640.