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Program will help little readers on the go

The Kenai City Council recently gave the OK to participation in a program that will keep young travelers occupied while enriching their brains. It’s the “Read on the Fly” program, created by “A-K on the GO” in 2016. It installs and stocks bookshelves for young readers at several Alaska airports. It received unanimous support at the Kenai Airport Commission last month, said Councilman Jim Glendening.

“At the airport commission meeting this topic was introduced," he said, "and it was well-received and thought it would be an enhancement for our airport. Thank you for getting this rolling. I believe it’ll be a plus. A small plus, but a plus. Thank you.”

Councilwoman Glenese Pettey didn’t object to installing the book nook, but she was concerned about its upkeep.

“This sounds like a beautiful opportunity, however I have witnessed this particular project down the concourse going down to Ravn down at Ted Stevens International Airport, and the upkeep and maintenance of that particular space was less than stellar. It did not give a beautiful reflection on the international airport," she said. "So I don’t know if there are any type of provisions that would provide for maintenance and upkeep?”

City Manager Paul Ostrander assured her and the council that the kiosk would be maintained well.

The motion passed with unanimous consent.

The books will be provided by Mary Jo Joiner, who happens to be the city’s librarian, to A-K on the GO, where they’ll be sorted, screened and distributed. According to the organization’s website, they currently send out about 100 new books a week.

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