MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- The annual Read a Book a Week challenge began Nov. 11 at the station library and will conclude Dec. 24.
The challenge is open to all independent readers aboard the station.
Fifty readers participated last year and the library’s goal is to get even more people to participate this year, said Belinda Pugh, librarian.
To participate, readers can pick up a bingo card from the library. Each square of the card lists a different genre.
Once a reader finishes reading a book, the library will mark off the square, and the reader can pick a gift off the Christmas tree.
These gifts include books, bookmarks, book lights, pencils and several other small things.
The purpose of the challenge is to help people get out of their reading rut and encourage them to read other genres, said Pugh.
All readers who get a bingo and return their card to the library will be entered in a raffle for the grand prize valued at approximately $250: a basket of books, DVDs and even a DVD player.
This challenge only benefits the reader, said Pugh.
“The more you read, the more you know. The more you know, the more you grow,” she added.
Homemade cookies, coffee, tea and hot chocolate will be provided the week of Christmas to all library patrons.
The library is a great comfort to lots of people, said Pugh. No matter where you go, a library is still a library.
It provides you with a familiar place, a touch of home, she said.
Five tips for becoming a regular reader:
Think ahead. Choose your next book before you even start your current one.
Read for pleasure. Learn to identify books that you’ll love.
Don’t rush. Speed reading will ruin your love of reading. Take your time, and read back over parts if necessary. You’ll retain more.
Set a minimum. Set a minimum amount of pages to read each time you pick up your book. If you read 50 pages a day, you can read a 350 page book comfortably within a week.
Don’t be afraid to quit. You don’t need to finish a book just because you started it. If you get 50 or so pages in and don’t enjoy it, swap books.
The library is open 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Fridays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays, and noon-8 p.m. Sundays and holidays.
The library will be closed Christmas day.
For more information on the challenge or what the library has to offer, call 253-3078.