It’s storytime at McChord Library

David Poe/Northwest Guardian

Joint Base Lewis-McChord continues to have its share of VIP visits, but when a group includes a sophisticated pig named Olivia, a needy bear and his friends, along with an army of mosaic penguins, kids like Anna Grace Rasberry, 4, can’t be expected to miss it. She was one of several JBLM children on hand for “Storytime” at the McChord Field library, Jan. 12.

Storytime at McChord, held Thursdays at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., is one of two programs held by JBLM Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation libraries. Whether at McChord or Book Patch Library on Lewis Main (Wed. 10:30 to 11 a.m.,) both invite military children to enjoy stories and make their own crafts, all free of charge.

Rachael Sweeney, a library technician who helps lead Storytime at McChord, has been working for the library for six years. She said Storytime books and crafts are always intended to reflect the age brackets of their audience and that she sees a lot of good things going on at McChord every Thursday.

“Typically the age range is 3-6 but we’ve welcomed younger and older,” Sweeney said. “It’s getting them familiar with the library; if you introduce more books to them, odds are they’ll follow on and ask to borrow their own books. Also, I notice quite a few parents really bond with their kids, so it’s a nice opportunity for that. They’re also bonding with each other too and meeting other parents they may not have met otherwise.”

Last week at McChord Library included kids making their own “mosaic penguins.” She said she feels whatever time it takes for the staff of the short-staffed library to prepare for Storytime, it remains worth it.

“Sometimes I feel silly making time to cut out hearts while I’m dealing with other tasks,” she said, “but when I’m the most down I see a kid who’s so proud of the craft he made and it changes everything — I’m here for them.”

Helen Rasberry, Anna Grace’s mother, was also at McChord last week and said she and her kids (10-month-old Abigail was also in tow) have done Storytime almost every week for the last six months. The wife of a JBLM Soldier who’d already had their first child before joining the Army three years ago, Helen said she remains pleased with the amount of family services she’s found available in the Army in comparison to the civilian sector and Storytimes were small examples of that.

“The Family care has been amazing,” Helen said. “Groups like MWR and others out in a great effort to make sure that families are taken care of. “When Dad is gone, or is training and is occupied, it’s a great way to keep the kids busy, and mixed in with the stuff we do at home, it’s great for (kids’) development.”

Sweeney said she’s proud to be a small part of the lives of JBLM children. A new Air Force spouse, she said she knows her time at McChord is getting shorter, but JBLM Libraries concern with supporting Air Force and Army Families will continue on.

“It’s sad when their moms mention they have orders; we’re going to have our own orders soon,” she said of her own Family. “There are kids I already miss, and more that I will when I leave, but it’s easier when you’ve met their amazing parents and know they’ll be doing great somewhere. We just figure if we helped start these kids on books early, it’ll stick with them.’

At her young age, Anna Grace probably doesn’t worry about boosting her reading comprehension or socialization skills during Storytime at the JBLM libraries, but she is concerned with one thing that also occurs — fun.

“I like books,” she said as she put the finishes touches on a penguin she named “Zia Nia” (we think,) “and the penguins are fun.”