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HEIDELBERG, Germany (July 22, 2008) - Camp Victory in Iraq is
nearly 2,000 miles from the nearest Army library in Europe. But
troops deployed at the sprawling base near Baghdad International
Airport soon will have access to a broad spectrum of library
resources through an e-Branch kiosk.
A team of movers packed and loaded the kiosk July 14 at the
European Regional Library Support Center here for shipment to Camp
Victory, where it will be installed at the Victory Education
Center.
"The kiosk will have a wonderful home here," Army Staff Sgt.
Jimmy Labas, education programs director at Victory Education
Center, said.
Labas noted that the kiosk "offers a wonderful array knowledge
and research capabilities" for all servicemembers assigned to the
camp. "It truly is a key to success," he said. "We are becoming the
leading education center in Iraq, and are grateful to have such a
useful tool."
Army Europe Libraries also have kiosks at the Pat Tillman United
Service Organizations center at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan; the
Warrior Transition Unit at Kleber Kaserne, near U.S. Army Garrison
Kaiserslautern, Germany; and the European Regional Library Support
Center here.
The e-Branch kiosks are designed to support educational
opportunities for troops and deliver electronic library services
and information to customers who can't get to a brick-and-mortar
library.
The freestanding kiosks are quick and simple to use, with
touch-screen technology and programmed buttons. The buttons mean
that servicemembers don't have to remember Web site addresses or
search for information. They simply touch the buttons on the screen
to go to news, sports, scholarly articles or 24/7 virtual reference
services from military librarians.
Users also can access a wide selection of virtual library
materials: online books, newspapers, journals, magazines,
dictionaries and encyclopedias. Additionally, customers can find
free information on topics such as education, business, law,
marriage and family, health and fitness, government and travel.
The kiosks are not meant to duplicate what Internet cafes
provide, such as quick access to e-mail and social networking
sites. Rather, they were designed to help bridge the gap of
information, education and recreation services that Army libraries
normally supply.
"The kiosks are just one example of how Army Europe Libraries
are attempting to reach out and enrich the quality of life for
Soldiers, no matter where they are," Meg Tulloch, Europe Region
librarian, said.
Richard Hanusey, a former Europe Region librarian who died in
2004, earned the Army Morale, Welfare and Recreation's White Plume
Award in part for initiating the e-Branch kiosk project. The White
Plume recognizes outstanding service and contribution to MWR and
family programs. It is the Army's highest medal for achievement in
support of Army MWR endeavors.
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