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Your community library offers more than just books, and one program can open up worlds for community children.

Story time for youngsters-school age and younger alike, available at both Storck Barracks and Bleidorn libraries--offers more than just reading a book to children for an hour.

"Children who read for pleasure do better at school and story-time is just the first rung of that 'reading-on-your-own ladder'," said Eric McCarthy, community librarian assistant.

But the session is not just reading to a group of children.

"Every Monday at the Bleidorn Library, we read a couple of stories and do a craft," said McCarthy. "We run the gamut here from toddlers to 3 and 4-year-olds who are starting to get it-those that want to hear stories."

Sessions usually run about an hour, but may be longer at Storck because "school-age children may read six or seven stories and then do the craft afterward," he said, adding that the craft tries to tie into something that was read.

But he emphasizes an important note for parents about story hour.

"All children under 10 have to be accompanied by a parent while in the library-direct supervision," said McCarthy.

He explained the purpose of this and of community libraries-interaction and involvement.

"Parents are present, helping with the craft, with stories-both the preschool and school-age sessions," said McCarthy.

Even more, he said there is a lot of parental involvement with the sessions--bringing snacks and contributing to the craft, discussions with the older children.

"I even encourage and welcome the parents to come and read if they want to-ideally it is best if the parents are part of it, but I'm not putting them to work," said McCarthy while laughing.

He stated that starting with the children early is the key to learning.

"We want to encourage life-long readers," he added. "The earlier you start that, and continue it, the better for the children."

And he expanded on that theme.

"Libraries are about literacy, libraries are about learning, libraries are about being a place where the community can come enjoy the space, enjoy the books, and story-time is a natural fit," said McCarthy.

Overall, he said libraries are essential community centers.

"All programming in the library is important for all ages-for teens, for adults, for children." he said. "Libraries are a crucial part of the community. Libraries have homework resources, technology, research, all under one roof where adult, children and teens can benefit from what we offer.

"We want the community to use our facility-this program is just one way for our customers to use it," he added. "If we offer something in addition to what we already have under the roof, then that increases the value of the facility to our patrons."

The library staff plans on incorporating other events this year. McCarthy mentioned the already-in-place monthly book club at both Bleidorn and Storck libraries and added that more programming is on the way.

"The summer reading program is our biggest program of the year," he said. "We have two or three events planned a week-including where the kids actually make a magazine. I want to have a magazine release party where the kids will read from it to parents, community members and VIPs-I want everyone to know what hard work these kids did. It's going to be big."

For complete details and information on story time and the many other children's programs the community libraries offer, call the Storck Barracks Library at DSN 467-4675 or CIV 09841-83-4675, or the Bleidorn Library at DSN 468-1740 or CIV 0981-183-1740.