Join your Navy General Library Program, along with libraries in schools, campuses and communities nationwide, in celebrating National Library Week April 10-16, a time to highlight the changing role of libraries and what they offer for both the young and old.
Remember your first library card? Peering over the counter as you stood on tippy toes to reach the slip of cardboard with your name on it?
Libraries transform.
Remember when all your friends had electronic book readers? Or the first time you downloaded the book reader app on your new smartphone? Remember the awe of actually flipping pages with the skim of a finger or tapping on a new word to discover its meaning?
Today’s libraries may be brick and mortar or live totally on your digital device. You might take your child to story time at your local library or you might watch Tumblebooks on your tablet. You might wander up and down the stacks in a shore library or you might flick through the e-book options on Overdrive. You might venture in to check out a book on how to change the oil in your car or you might download the directions from Chilton’s Library.
Libraries have transformed to meet your needs no matter where you are in life and in the world.
Libraries today aren’t only a place of quiet study, but also are creative and engaging community centers where people can collaborate using new technologies or just relax. Navy MWR’s library program offers a wide variety of print and digital resources, including e-books, magazines, and newspapers which can be accessed in person or online.
The newly launched Navy Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) Digital Library website offers 24/7 access to electronic books, audio books, reference materials and newspapers, all free of charge, to Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard active-duty personnel, Reservists, retirees, dependents, civilian employees, Naval Academy Midshipmen, and DoN Delayed Entry Program personnel.
Using today’s technology MWR patrons can visit the Navy MWR Digital Library from any device with Internet connectivity, including computers, tablets and phones, anytime and anywhere.
First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries across the country each April.
For more information about the Navy MWR Digital Library or email nglp@navy.mil.
Robin Hillyer-Miles is a contributing writer for the Fleet and Family Readiness program under Navy Installations Command.