Ramstein library begins 2009 Summer Reading Program

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Amanda Dick
  • Ramstein Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany --  As the sun streamed through the windows, children and parents sat in a room filled with books telling stories of great adventures, waiting to experience a world outside their own. 

Where would they go today? Who would they meet? What adventures waited for them?
The Ramstein Air Base library recently opened up this world to children of all ages as the 2009 Summer Reading Program kicked off with an instrument petting zoo. 

"We had all of the musical families there," said Debbie Worthington, 435th Services Squadron Ramstein library programs technician. "People brought their children and they were able to see musical instruments up close and personal and experience them first hand." 

Each week until the first week of August, the library will hold reading sessions and activities for preschool, elementary and high school aged children, teaching them about creativity. 

"This summer is about being creative at your library," Ms. Worthington said. "I'm absolutely thrilled about this because I really love music and art and encouraging the creative side of childhood. All of the themes deal with music, dance, art and drama." 

During the first week of reading sessions, preschoolers dug into the realm of dinosaurs through books, singing and a dinosaur hunt. 

When asked what her favorite dinosaur was, Savannah Jolman, daughter of Staff Sgt. Dustin Jolman, 435th Civil Engineer Squadron, said, "the Tyrannosaurus Rex is my favorite dinosaur; it goes roar." 

Parents had different reasons for bringing their children to the reading session. 

Michelle Blakeman, wife of Staff Sgt. James Blakeman, 721st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, said she brought her daughter, Kaitlin Blakeman, to the session because her daughter enjoys books. 

"She has a great love for books and wants to come to the library every day to get a new book to read and look through," Ms. Blakeman added. "It helps her, I think, with her reading development." 

Elementary-age reading sessions will be held every Wednesday from 9 to 10 a.m., and preschool-age sessions will be held every Thursday from 9:15 to 10 a.m. in the library. 

Starting June 26, the library will also begin the Shakespeare movie night every other Friday for teenagers, Ms. Worthington said. 

As the summer program progresses, Ms. Worthington said she hopes children will learn to love reading books for the simple joy of reading. 

"Reading should be a joy by itself," she added. "I want children to love reading in and of itself, and that's what these activities are designed to do." 

For more information on library programs, visit the Ramstein library in Bldg. 409 or the 435th SVS Web site at www.435thservices.com.