Take time to cool off in the library this summer Published June 18, 2010 By Cristie Varvaro AIR FORCE DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON -- The Joint Base Andrews Library is in the midst of an exciting summer and will host a variety of activities in the upcoming months. With its mission to provide information to the command structure, Airmen and families, the library encourages the base community to become involved in its events and take advantage of what it has to offer. The Summer Reading Program will kick off Monday, June 21 and aims to promote reading as an extra-curricular activity for children and teenagers up to age 18. "The goal of summer reading program is to help children maintain and enhance their reading skills over the summer while having fun at the same time," said Ms. Cheryl Gritton, the Base Library director. Upon registration, children will receive a t-shirt, tote bag, pencils, bookmarks, stickers and a log sheet to keep track of their summer reading. "Younger children who are not able to read yet may still join the fun," said Ms. Gritton. "Any books read to them count towards the program." Prizes are awarded based on the amount of reading each child completes. Registration takes place in the library. To kickoff the Summer Reading Program, the library will have a "Voyage to Book Island" themed celebration June 21 at 11 a.m. The event will take place outside of the library, under the overhang, and will consist of free giveaways, t-shirts, and other prizes for children. The library also hosts "Story Time" for children twice a week, Mondays at 5:30 p.m. and Wednesdays at 10 a.m. This weekly event offers an opportunity for families to spend time together and enjoy the tranquility of the library while being immersed in children's literature. Librarians act as the story tellers during "Story Time." New to the library is the arrival of various reading lists and video games, as well as the creation of an area geared towards teenagers. "We have received the reading list for the Chief of Staff of the Air Force," said Ms. Gritton. "We also have more than 150 video games for Xbox 360, Wii, and Play Station 3." These games are available for use in the library and may also be checked out. The "Teen Scene," which consists of books and magazines geared towards youths up to age 13, is a recent addition to the library. Offering a fun environment with lounge chairs and a variety of reading material, the "Teen Scene" is a relaxing space for young readers. The additions to the library would not have been possible without funding from the Department of Defense. "I can't say enough about DoD's contributions this year," said Ms. Gritton. "We have received a substantial amount of support." As a result, the library was able to purchase approximately 35 new books for different age groups as well as the prizes for the Summer Reading Program. The Joint Base Andrews Library has extended its hours for the summer to accommodate its customers. The hours of operation are as follows: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday: 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. Thursday: 11a.m. - 8 p.m. Friday, Saturday: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sunday: Closed For more information surrounding the Joint Base Andrews Library, call 301-981-6454 or visit http://www.316forcesupportsquadron.com/library.htm