by Kris Campbell
Air Force Services Agency libraries division
5/17/2012 - JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO - RANDOLPH, Texas (AFNS) -- The Department of Defense summer reading program returns this month to more than 250 installation libraries, including 74 Air Force libraries, with a goal to encourage and support a love of reading among military children and families.
This year's theme is "Reading is so Delicious!" and library visitors may participate in a range of free activities. Last year's "A Midsummer's Knight's Read" theme inspired military children around the globe to read and dream and resulted in an increase of more than 400 percent in program participation. Air Force library officials hope for similar levels of participation this year.
"We've got a great program planned for a deliciously good time at our libraries this summer," said Margie Buchanan, Air Force Services Agency libraries division chief. "We have programs, activities and books for readers of all ages to have fun and keep reading skills sharp over the summer."
Events may include a "Books for Breakfast" program, which includes discussions about different cultures and breakfasts all over the globe and food-related game days that include playing games such as Candy Land, Hot Potato, and Hungry Hungry Hippos. Participants will be offered incentives such as T-Shirts and metal lunch boxes to encourage them to read and participate all summer long.
There's also a serious side to summer reading. Research spanning 100 years shows that students typically score lower on standardized tests at the end of summer vacation than they do on the same tests at the beginning of the summer, Buchanan said.
"Studies indicate students who read recreationally out-performed those who don't," she said. "Students read more when they can choose materials based on their own interests. We hope our children will read for the fun of it - now and throughout their lives. Our summer reading program is an investment in lifelong learning for our children."
Airmen and families will find this DOD-wide program "family friendly" as it allows those who are moving to new installations to meet other children in their age groups during the summer - thus lessening the stress of being "new" in their schools.
For more information about the DOD summer reading program, interested participants can stop by a local installation library or visit http://ila.org/dodsumread. Those who are not near an installation can e-mail dodsumread@navy.mil to find out how to participate.
