Eisenhower students enjoy National Library Week

  • Published
  • By Ensign Rex Miller
  • 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Students from Eisenhower Elementary School are visiting the Vance Library for a series of guest readers this week in celebration of National Library Week. Guest readers include Chaplain (Capt.) Zachary Nash, Vance Chapel, Col. Tim Gibson, 71st Mission Support Group commander, Dr. Cheryl Evans, dean of Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva, Okla., Dr. Ed Vineyard, vice president of the Enid campus of Northern Oklahoma College, as well as members of the Vance Fire Department.

Colonel Gibson read to kindergarteners Tuesday, April 13. He said it is important to get kids interested in books at an early age. "It's the difference between giving a kid a fish and teaching him to fish," said the colonel. "If you get them excited about books and the library, it doesn't matter what kind of background or where they come from, you've given them an amazing tool."

He read "Never Take a Shark to the Dentist," and "Ms. Brooks Loves Books, and I Don't," to the class.

A highlight of the upcoming schedule at the Vance Library is the summer reading program for kids. This year, the program will be supplemented by funding from a larger Department of Defense program. Since December 2009 the library has received 40 to 50 new books each month for their child and young adult sections as part of this DOD program. The library will continue to receive new books through November.

As part of the summer reading program, children will receive a package including things such as a book bag, bookmark and pencil when they sign up. In addition, they will earn a prize when they reach the milestones of reading five, 10, 15 and 20 books.

According to Mary Arthur, Vance Library's head librarian, there will be a children's reading program at the library as well as a program for teens at the Vance Teen Center. All of this will be provided from the funding given to the library by the DOD. The program starts June 1 and runs through the end of July.