MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE -- Individuals of all ages can explore their imaginations in the many book clubs offered through the Harriotte B. Smith Library aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune.
The Bookworms Reading Club is for children ages 6 to 11. It is split up into two separate reading levels, junior and senior, due to the amount of people each club can have, said Fran Bing, base library youth services technician.
“The reading clubs really help young children, because it gets them used to reading comprehension,” said Bing. “We ask questions to get the children to look deeper into the book.”
Parents are encouraged to allow their children to pursue the book clubs independently. The staff encourages children to interact and participate through guided discussions and activities.
Teen Reads is the club for ages 12 to 18, and two adult clubs Good Reads and Page Turners are for adults 18 and older.
Children and adults in each book club see improvement in their reading ability, added Bing.
“No teacher or parent is allowed to pick the books,” said Bing. “All the books this year were chosen by last year’s club. It eliminates the required reading factor, they get to read for fun.”
Many of the books are firsts in a series to encourage the readers to continue reading, Bing added.
Miriam Jones, a military spouse, said her 8-year-old and 6-year-old daughters both attend the book clubs and really enjoy themselves.
“The book clubs are our favorite activities on base,” said Jones. “My 8-year-old loves to read, and the book club allows her to share that love with other kids.”
Jones added her 6-year-old daughter doesn’t enjoy reading, but her love of the book club motivates her to read books she otherwise wouldn’t read.
Each book club has a limit of 25 participants and meets monthly at the base library.
Due to the government shutdown, call the library for the book clubs’ schedule at 451-3026.
For more information on book clubs, visit www.mccslejeune.com/libraries.
Find us on Google + (http://gplus.to/camp.lejeune)
Follow us on Twitter (http://twitter.com/camp_lejeune)
Like us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/camp.lejeune)