From brick and mortar to virtual

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Ashlin Federick
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Due to sequestration and budget cuts, many government organizations have implemented cost-cutting measures to streamline processes. The base library here at Dover Air Force Base, Del., is no exception.

By March 21, 2014, the base library will be transformed into a virtual system leveraging Air Force investments in Zinio and Overdrive while pushing the most popular collections, children's books and educations materials, to where they still can be utilized.

The 436th Force Support Squadron surveyed library customers on services they thought were valuable. The survey and checkout history revealed educational material, such as CLEP and DANTES, and children's books were the collections library users want and use.

Col. Thomas Reppart, 436th Mission Support Group commander, said cost was the primary reason for the transformation.

"With this information, we decided to transform our library services to align these resources to the Education Center and Youth Center, respectively, while divesting the remaining material," said Col. Reppart. "As we continue to maneuver in a fiscally constrained environment, every dollar must be spent prudently. However, Force Support is evaluating how to transfer excess assets to proper homes."

Chester Wyatt, 436th Force Support Squadron force development flight chief, said the library's transformation will allow the 436th FSS to make more efficient use of its resources.

"How do we do business smarter?" asked Wyatt. "You have two state-of-the-art libraries within five miles of the base that supply the bricks and mortar. So, we are duplicating efforts. We are expending money there is no need to expend at the government's expense."

Funding for the library staff will end this year, so the 436th FSS is evaluating options to transfer them to other jobs on base. Elizabeth Hoard, 436th FSS library aide, said the base library has about 100 people that come through each day and she is sad to see the library go.

"I have been here for eight years, and I think it is unfortunate because it is one more perk the military is losing," said Hoard. "We understand the money situation, but we are sad that it is all going away."

As part of the transformation, the Education Center will house a small computer lab and sitting area where Team Dover members will be able to sign out CLEP, DANTES and study materials. In order to use these materials members will have to come in to the education center and obtain a code.

The children's books, to include the teenagers, will be moved to the Youth Center. The Child Development Center will also be supplied with books for their ages. Other programs such as the summer reading program will still continue.

For those wanting the use of a traditional library, they will be encouraged to patronage the two public libraries in Dover, both of which offer state of the art services.

"This initiative also allows Team Dover to utilize the newly-opened library in downtown Dover, which only strengthens our off-base partnership," said Reppart. "These changes will take place over the next couple months. I look forward to this transformation as we continue to look for ways to smartly spend our limited resources."

The new Dover AFB Library Transformation Configuration will officially open in the Youth Center and the Education Building on March 21, 2014. The Youth Center will provide library services during the hours it is open and the Education Office Library will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.