Cycling “throwdown” held at 25 AF libraries

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Gina Vaccaro McKeen
  • Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs
RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  AF libraries record 9,600-mi on bikes; celebrate National Library Week

Participants at 25 Air Force bases cycled more than 9,600 miles as part of a recent program to celebrate National Library Week, April 13-17.

What does cycling have to do with libraries one may ask?

The miles ridden were part of a program called the Library/Fitness Cycle "Throwdown" in which base libraries, with the help of base fitness centers, set up stationary bicycles in their facilities in a competition to see which library could record the most miles ridden.

"People need to be fit in both mind and body," said Vicky Stever, Library director at Hurlburt Field, Fla., who initiated the event. "Incorporating library resources can make exercise time more meaningful and enjoyable."

The aim of the program was to increase awareness of fitness and library programs available on bases and to encourage Airmen and their families to make use of them.

"The 'Throwdown' showed people how to maximize the benefits of two great services," Ms. Stever added. "We wanted to show people a fun way to exercise and use library resources together."

Each library tracked miles ridden, pages read, and minutes listened to audio books while riding the stationary bikes. The top libraries in each of the three categories--most miles ridden, most pages read, and most minutes listened to--will be awarded additional funds to purchase library materials.

"Whether a library had a lot of participation or a little, the amazing thing is they participated in this program," Ms. Stever continued. "It is not easy to coordinate getting the cycles, finding space to set them up, and convincing people to break away from their ordinary behavior to ride a bike."

Winners were announced to the participating base libraries on April 20. Hurlburt Field rode the most miles with 1,100.57 miles recorded. McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. reported the most pages read with 2,287 pages and Eglin AFB, Fla. came out on top in the final category with 2,092 minutes listened. The winners will be recognized this July at the 2009 Air Force/Navy Librarians Workshop in Chicago.

"While we did have libraries recognized as winners, every participating library is a winner with this program," Ms Stever said. "Airmen may first come to the library for Internet or a zany program, but they return for exam study guides, foreign language materials, database research, books for their children, repair manuals and so much more."

The staffs at libraries across the Air Force are using programs like the "throwdown" to introduce Airmen and their families to the many services provided at base libraries.

"We are very excited to have had such strong participation across the Air Force," said Ms Stever. "When customers support library activities they are serving as advocates for the free services libraries provide to all and communicating to leadership that military libraries are vital services to our bases."

For information about library programs at your base, contact your local library staff. You can also visit the Air Force libraries Web site at www.usafservices.com/AFLIS/