WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Navy General Library Program (NGLP) announced Dec. 5 the arrival of the Navy e-Reader device (NeRD), to the surface fleet.
A single, portable device developed by Findaway World in conjunction with the NGLP, the NeRD is now an essential component of the U.S. Navy's Morale, Welfare, and Recreation program.
The e-readers were produced to enhance leisure time, while promoting professional growth. They contain most of the 18 titles that comprise the Chief of Naval Operations Professional Reading Program.
"The Navy e-Reader is a definite hit with the submarine force," said Senior Chief Electronics Technician Kevin Rollert. "During at-sea time there is routinely a five-person waitlist. The material is what today's Sailors want to read and is one of the most popular morale items on board."
Submarines began receiving the NeRDs in May. They were a huge hit with the Sailors. As a result of this success, the program is expanding to include the surface fleet.
"The NeRDs have been shipped to the Deployed Forces Support (DFS) offices," said Nilya Carrato, program assistant for the library program. "Once DFS receives them then they are distributed to the surface fleet."
The e-Reader has already been shipped to all homeports worldwide. They are being distributed to smaller combatants such as mine sweepers, destroyers, frigates, cruisers, and also to the hospital ships, Diego Garcia Shore Library and Navy Air Facility Atsugi Shore Library, Japan. The NLGP office plans to include all other surface ships, including aircraft carriers, in the NeRD program in the future.
The collection contains a wide variety of titles such as "The Odyssey," "Game of Thrones" and "Bossy Pants."
"There is something for everyone," said Carrato.
Carrato added, since its initial release the title list has had some adjustments and the list of titles is constantly being reviewed. The NeRDs now have fiction, contemporary and best-seller genres that appeal to both men and women; "To Kill A Mocking Bird" was added to the classic literature section and more books with female heroines were added to the science fiction section.
Current plans call for 1,170 NeRDs to be distributed, with 1,140 going to the fleet and 30 going to shore libraries. While there are not enough NeRDs for every Sailor, there are enough to share.
For more information regarding the Navy Library program visit http://navymwr.org/libraries/digital.
For more news from Commander, Navy Installations Command, visit https://www.cnic.navy.mil/ or www.navy.mil/local/cni/.