Tyndall Library: Serving Airman and their families

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Cody R. Miller
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  The Tyndall Base Library held an open house Oct. 26 to educate newcomers and residents of Tyndall on the variety of services the library offers at no cost.

The library recently went through changes to make services more accessible to customers. Service upgrades include new computers, a reworked business hours schedule and better communication of the services they offer.

“A lot of people don’t realize the online resources we have,” said Rudy Martinez, 325th Force Support Squadron library aide. “Besides the regular library services, such as checking out books and movies, we also offer a number of other services to help new Airmen out. We offer online tutors for children or Airmen who need help in school subjects. Almost all these services are free. We at the library are dying to get more Airmen in here, so we can help them with whatever they need.”

The library recently received 16 new computers along with updated software.

“The computers will offer Airmen a way to access their online needs if they don’t have a computer at home,” Martinez said.

The library is open to children of all ages and grades and can provide a variety of helpful educational material no matter the subject.

“One of my favorite things is when a kid comes to return a book and they don’t want to give it back, because they loved it so much,” Martinez said. “When you have kids reading, it’s only going to make the world a better place. When a kid is full of curiosity, they’ll find great things to do with that curiosity.”

Martinez said he believes that libraries make bases a better place by being pillars of learning and community and a place where children can meet and socialize. He said children who are home schooled have particularly benefited from the library as they are able to be around other children and learn as a group.

Along with the new computers, the staff worked out a plan in which they used staggering schedules to ensure that the library is ready and manned at all times.

“We really wanted to do whatever it takes to make sure this place was open to the public,” Martinez said. “Even if we’re by ourselves we want to make sure people have a place to fulfill their educational needs.”

The Tyndall Library is a valued resource for new Airmen and personnel who are temporarily assigned to Tyndall.

"The library staff has really been innovative in their initiative to make sure the library is open as much as possible," said Mark Rix, 325th FSS Force Development flight chief. “We are always trying to make sure we are able to meet the needs of our Airmen and their families. The library is usually the second or third stop for Airmen when they arrive on Tyndall. We want to make sure they have every resource. Also, we have a lot of Airmen on temporary duty assignments who come here. These guys don’t have a computer in their lodging room, so the library allows them to check their email and communicate with their leadership to get the mission done.”

The Tyndall Library is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Thursday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information on the Tyndall library and the services they offer, visit http://325fss.com/index.php?page=LIBRARY or call 850-283-4287.