FORT RUCKER, Ala. -- Libraries across the U.S. are celebrating National Library Week, and the library staffs on Fort Rucker want to remind people that libraries are about more than just books.
Fort Rucker boasts two libraries, The Fort Rucker Center Library and the Aviation Technical Library, and although the libraries serve two different missions, both are centered on education and supporting the community on the installation.
The lesser known of the two libraries, the Aviation Technical Library, exists to support Army Aviators on post with academic and technical library references, and research assistance, according to Rebecca Kammerer, Aviation Technical Library chief librarian.
"Typically those we are geared toward serving are students; however, we do have a lot of other material and different forms of media in our collection," said Kammerer. "We try and also serve the general military community, so the types of materials we select to provide for that community are the things that are most current and relevant for today. We also have a great audio book collection."
In addition to academic and technical reference support, the library houses a plethora of material regarding current events, politics, and military science and history.
"(The library) is a resource for anyone who might be interested in this area," she said.
For students in flight school, though, the library is an invaluable resource where they can receive supplementary assistance through the Aviation Learning Center, where they can utilize a cockpit trainer with a full staff of experts in various airframes, said Kammerer.
"They're all retired pilots and are very knowledgeable on the different aircraft," she said. "They can even provide an instruments class for students who might need help in that area -- they are a fantastic resource for the flight students."
The learning center, which is a part of the technical library, offers materials in various forms of media on various airframes, including the UH-60, CH-47, OH-58 and TH-67, as well as a cockpit trainer for each airframe, some static and some interactive.
The center also offers a flight planning room, map preparation room with light tables and study rooms, as well.
The Aviation Technical Library is open Mondays-Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Aviation Learning Center is open Mondays-Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Fridays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 9 p.m.
For more information on the Aviation Technical Library, call 255-2944. For more information on the Aviation Learning Center, call 255-2776.
The Fort Rucker Center Library is geared more towards families and offers an abundance of resources and entertainment for the community.
According to the Center Library website, the facility boasts 19 high-speed public access computers, high-speed WiFi, individual study areas, as well as a collection that includes books for adults and children; a large DVD, CD and audio book collection; a wide range of foreign language books; language learning resources; and more.
The Center Library is also a place for many family-friendly events, including weekly story time, Fridays from 10:15-11 a.m.; the Lego Block Party on Mondays from 3:30-4:30 p.m.; Monthly adult and teen book clubs; and various other events throughout the year, such as the popular Mad Scientist Workshop, which returns April 19 from 3:30-5:30 p.m.
For the next iteration of the Mad Scientist Workshop, which encompasses science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics, participants will get the chance to get their hands dirty by making different varieties of slime.
"This is a STEAM program, so (children) are leaning these concepts and it's important to talk about the science behind it," said Cameron Hill, Center Library youth librarian. "This helps children reinforce what they're doing and learn from it."
The workshop will be held in two sessions, and space is limited to 15 participants per session and open to children ages 7-12.
For more information on the Center Library, or to register for the workshop, call 255-3885.
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