Summer programs draw youth to libraries

MILFORD, PA — This summer, local kids and teens traveled with Louis and Clark, met up with some cowboys and survived some wilderness adventures, and they did it all within the walls of Pike County Public Library (PCPL). As part of the statewide summer reading program “Discover New Trails at Your Library,” PCPL staff demonstrated the limitless numbers of trails that can be followed when one opens a book.

The fun began on June 21 as the library, in partnership with Camp Speers Eljabar YMCA, hosted a Summer Kick-Off. The night of family fun included crafts, story-telling and local folk singer Larry Martone.

All three branches held weekly story hours with crafts for young children. Kids ages nine to 11 had fun playing traditional Native American games at the Dingman Township Branch and making walking sticks at the Milford Branch.

Teens at the Milford and Dingman Township Branches had book discussions, played games and a enjoyed a library rodeo that included branding due date cards, lassoing book carts, and barrel racing with stepping stools. The Milford Branch also hosted a weekly book discussion group exclusively for teens in high school and older. This is the first time PCPL has held a program just for older teens. Kids ages 14 to 19 read and discussed such books as Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” and Lois Duncan’s “Summer of Fear.”

Pike County Public Library was able to provide these programs despite state budget cuts because of a generous gift from the Friends of the Library and a Family Literary Grant from Northampton Community College.