Barksdale children take a bite out of reading

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Kristin High
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  The Barksdale Library will kick off its annual Summer Reading Program June 5 at the Youth Center.

The program, which runs until July 24, is designed to prevent summer learning loss by keeping children reading while they are away from school.

Research shows long summer vacations break the rhythm of learning, lead to forgetting information previously taught and require a significant amount of subject review when students return to school in the fall. Also age, grade level and out-of-school influences can factor in with learning loss, said Christiane Rhodes, 2nd Force Support Squadron children's librarian.

"We want to encourage children to read," she said. "Any child with access to the base can participate. The program requires children to read a minimum of 10 books throughout the program, but our hope is they will continue to grow and learn."

Each year, a different theme is chosen and used throughout Summer Reading Programs across the U.S. This year the Department of Defense's Morale, Welfare and Recreation libraries chose "Reading is So Delicious." There are tables set up in the Barksdale Library promoting the theme as well as free bookmarks for children.

Rhodes said there are two different ways to participate in the Summer Reading Program.

"The younger children can participate in 'Read to Me,' where parents can read to those who are not able to yet," she said. "The older children are usually school age and read on their own, as well as count the books that are read to them at the Youth Center or when they visit the library."

Due to recent budget cuts, the Barksdale Library no longer has volunteer reading but children will still be able to log the amount of books read with them or at the Youth Center.

"Although the base library no longer has a reading program, we always welcome volunteers to come and read to the children," said Cora Davis, 2 FSS Youth Center school-age development director.

Children enrolled in Youth Center programs can participate in community service on their own, including volunteering to help with reading.

"We have field trips to nursing homes and the Child Development Center where our participants can read to someone and count that toward their book log as well," said Davis.

Children participating in the program will be reading for various prizes including bicycles, books, a guessing jar filled with gummy candy, and an assortment of other age-appropriate prizes from either the library or the Youth Center.

Each child will track the amount of books they read or have read to them, and turn their lists in for various small prizes throughout the summer. The larger prizes will be given away at the program finale, along with certificates for participating in the program.

For more information about the Summer Reading Program or to volunteer to read, contact the Barksdale Library at 456-4101 or the Youth Center at 456-3448.