Yokota library's summer reading program goes medieval

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Katrina R. Menchaca
  • 374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan --  As summer begins and students are released from school, it means a chance for most students to forget school work and relax, but for others it is means more free time to read.

With Yokota's summer reading program, beginning in June and ending in August, children and youth up to 12th grade can register, read and win.

The program begins June 21 with registration from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the base library, but participants may register at any point during the summer.

The annual summer reading program is a self-paced program that encourages children on Air Force installations to read during their summer breaks. This program provides them with an alternative option to watching television or playing video games.

This year's theme, "A Midsummer Knight's Read," comes from the Illinois Library Association's annual summer reading program, iRead. The program's mission, according to the ILA website, is to provide high quality, low-cost resources and products that enable local library staff to motivate children, young adults and adults to read.

The Yokota base library will join hundreds of libraries this summer as they encourage kids and adults to participate in a medieval-themed reading program.

"Our goal is to make reading fun," said Kay Baumwart, Yokota Base Library director. "We use this program to introduce children to the library and hopefully help them become lifelong readers."

Every book read from the library will be recorded on to each child's individual reading logs. For children who are too young to read, parents are allowed to read to them. Electronic and audio books count, as well.

The library will host arts and craft activities relating to the theme for program participants, including Kindergarten through12th grade Medieval Games and How to Decorate Your Dragon.

The summer reading finale party is scheduled to be held Aug. 18. Reading certificates will be presented and a prize raffle will be held. To participate in the event, children must be registered in the program and have read at least one book.

To sign up for "A Midsummer Knight's Read," visit the base library or call 225-7490 for more information.