Library program encourages literacy during the summer months

Photo By Sgt. A.M. LaVey | Military children listen to a storyteller at the John L. Throckmorton Library, during the library's 2009 Summer Reading Program. The program, which encourages youths to become lifelong readers, is held on Wednesdays, during the months of June and July.  

FORT BRAGG, NC, UNITED STATES

07.09.2009

Story by Sgt. A.M. LaVey 

49th Public Affairs Detachment   

FORT BRAGG, N.C. -- Approximately 450 children from the Fort Bragg community have signed up to participate in this year's Summer Reading Program held at the John L. Throckmorton Memorial Library located on Fort Bragg. The program, which runs from mid-June to the end of July, has been active at Bragg since the late 1960's, and was developed to encourage children to read during the summer months, when they are out of school.

The goal, according to chief librarian, Phil Quinones, is to "have children become better readers and to develop a life-long love of learning."

The summer reading program, as well as other youth programming "has always been an instrumental part of the Fort Bragg library, meeting the information needs of military families", offers Bernadette Ross, Throckmorton reference librarian and one of the coordinators of the program.

Each year, public and military libraries follow a theme, and this year's theme is "Be creative @ your library." A celebration of the arts along with reading stimulates the creativity of children (and their parents) through drama, visual art, dance, music and other types of artistic outlets. Army Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Command libraries are required to participate in the annual reading program, but are not required to adopt the national theme, though most do, according to Chuck Ralston, Southeast Installation Management Command Regional Library program manager.

The weekly curriculum is creative programming coupled with reading; and is broken down into three parts: a reading, a performance and a creative activity with refreshments.

July 8, the library hosted Fayetteville storyteller, artist and children's book illustrator, Anthony Morrison, who performed a piece called "Step into My Gallery," which was a combination of visual art, dance and music. The piece highlighted duty to parents and the importance of individuality.

The program is constantly growing each year, as new people come to Fort Bragg and more people find out about the program; librarian staff registered 150 more this year than 2008. The library also has instituted a separate adult summer reading program, which runs through August 6th.

"This is a reading program where children can learn to read and interact with others," Quinones said. "It creates a better environment and a better world for all, as these readers get older."

The Summer Reading Program is Wednesdays during June and July from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

For additional information, contact the library at 910-396-BOOK.

• Date Taken: 07.09.2009
• Date Posted: 07.09.2009 16:33
• Story ID: 36181
• Location: FORT BRAGG, NC, US