Base Libraries provide free educational services

Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark. -- One of the greatest services the base library offers to military members is access to materials for a free college education.

Although Tuition Assistance for military members is part of any number of military education programs, some members can earn a college degree without spending a dime, or setting a foot into a college classroom. A Community College of the Air Force Associate degree can be earned by merely using the experiences and training provided by the Air Force and resources the base library has to offer.

An entire section of the library is dedicated to College Level Examination Program (CLEP) and Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) testing resources. Utilizing these materials can save time and money for Airmen wanting to earn college credits.

“There are study guides to support all tests and they can be checked out for your use,” said Bethry Becker, library manager, 19th Force Support Squadron.

On the library’s web site is a link to the DoD MWR Libraries Petersons CLEP & DSST Test Prep page that has sample CLEP & DSST exams to take at no cost. There is a listing for free streaming CLEP reviews and lessons that can be watched on phones, iPods, computers and tablets. The library can be visited for the access sheet to this resource.

CLEP and DANTES tests assess college-level knowledge in thirty-six subject areas and provide a mechanism for earning college credits without taking college courses.

The library offers a wide array of other services to the Airmen and their families as well, such as programs to learn a new language.

“For members wishing to learn a new language, it can be relatively easy with a language program called Transparent Language Online with 80 different foreign languages available to learn,” said Becker. “You can sign up at the library for access to all languages.”

Voted best Air Force library in 2015, the hands-on service provided to customers is just one of the many reasons why it received that honor.

Located in the Walters Community Support Center, the library provides enormous benefits for its customers with more than 20,000 books in stock. There are more than 5,000 non-fiction and entertainment DVDs in the library, with an additional 1,000 Audiobooks and 1,000 music CDs. It also has a collection of PS4, Xbox One, and Wii U games.

Access to eBooks and eAudiobooks can be found through OverDrive and OneClickdigital. Also, Zinio provides access to online periodical collections and Hoopla allows members 24-hour access to borrow digital movies, TV shows, music, eBooks, eAudiobooks and more. Members can register at the library for access to these online digital libraries.

The library has CAC enabled computers, 10 on the military network and 15 on a civilian network. Free private study rooms and Wi-Fi are also available throughout the facility for those without computers or internet at home. The library even has an enclosed children’s room so parents can bring their children with them.

For more information on the LRAFB Library go to http://lrafblibrary.sirsi.net and https://www.facebook.com/LRAFBLibrary/