Terri Barnes

Spouse Calls

Join the conversation with Stripes columnist Terri Barnes, as she explores issues relevant to the lives of military spouses.

Libraries online

Posted April 13th, 2008 by Terri Barnes
in

Military libraries at bases and posts around the world provide their patrons with many kinds of resources and recreation. For this week's Spouse Calls column (click here) I talked to Melinda Mosley, the USAFE Command Librarian.

In addition to all the things you probably know the library does, like check out books and movies and provide reference material, Melinda told me about library services you might not know about:

  • Book Club in a Box: These boxes provide a dozen copies of a book, plus a discussion guide. For a book club, check out this kit and just add friends.
  • Playaways: These MP3-sized audio books are being tested at some USAFE locations. They come with earphones so users can take these books anywhere, hands free.
  • Library services for troops downrange: The USAFE Libarary Service Center provides books and other materials for personnel at some remote locations.
  • Help with local languages: Audio books and CDs, as well as available registration for the Rosetta Stone program, are available at the library.

Library web sites list these services and more, providing online access to many resources from professional journals to online kids books. (Check out "Tumble Books, just for fun!)

This is National Library Week, so your base or post library might have special events planned. Even without extra programs, though, going to the library is worth the trip ... just for the books.

Navy library directory

On April 16th, 2008 Terri Barnes says:

An e-mail from a reader pointed out important information not in last week's column about libraries: 

Terri,

Hello. I often read your column on Sundays, here in Daegu, Korea. I am a former wife of an army soldier. He retired three years ago, so now he is my dependent.  I enjoy reading your timely information. I just received notice that my family and I will be transferring to Sigonella, Sicily.  

 My family and I frequent the base library here twice or three times a week. We are a family of readers.  I read your last column about libraries. I searched the sites you mentioned  in the last paragraph about anything about the post library in Sigonella. I could not find anything. I would appreciate if you could  please direct me to the right website.

Christine Lopez

Literacy Support Specialist

Daegu American School

Thanks so much for your message, Christine. I'm glad that you have found the column helpful. I see that the DOD library list I included does not include general libraries on Navy bases and stations. I'm sorry that I overlooked that.

My "research assistant" (my husband :) who just got back from deployment) did a little online searching while I was making dinner last night, and he found a directory of U.S. Navy libraries. Click here to see it.

You will find the address and phone of the Sigonella NAS Library listed there.

Terri

Library

On April 29th, 2008 Hope says:

Welcome home to your husband from deployment! Always cause for celebration!

I also enjoyed the article on libraries. My mother is a librarian and we are readers in my family as well. I forwarded the article to her because she is interested in my military life and this was a nice cross over subject.

Thanks for the nice article.
Hope

A book worm!

On April 29th, 2008 Terri Barnes says:

Thanks, Hope! Yes, we are very glad to have our family all in one place!

I could have written lots more about good library memories! I love books and reading. When I was in about fourth grade I made my own "library" by stacking all my books under my bed and hiding out there to read with a flash light. Not so great for my vision, probably, but hours of entertainment!

Thanks for your comments -- Terri