Pelham Civic Complex recently had an eager, young staff distributing ice skates as Pelham Public’s Junior Librarians took over the skate distribution duties on Tuesday, June 2.

The Junior Librarians were assisting during Pelham Public Library’s 2009 Annual Summer Reading Program kick-off party held at the Pelham Civic Complex Ice Skating Arena.

While the afternoon heat and humidity skyrocketed, Pelham Public’s youngest patrons enjoyed the coolest activity in town — ice skating! More than 500 readers turned out to celebrate the beginning of summer reading.

“Our Junior Librarians are doing a great job as always,” said Children’s librarian Mary Campbell. “We have an energetic bunch of over sixty students in our group this year.”

Interested students in sixth through 10th grade can sign up at the library to become Junior Librarians. Members volunteer to work one summer shift weekly helping during the library’s children’s summer programs and performing other duties.

Most Junior Librarians have grown up participating in the annual summer reading programs. This year’s theme is “Be Creative at the Library,” and planned activities include Movie Mondays, crafts, a wild west show, drawing lessons, P.J. story time, and a special three–ring science show presented by the McWane Center.

More information on these programs can be found at Pelhamlibrary.com or on calendars available at the library.

In addition to the Junior Librarians, Pelham Public Library also sponsors a Teen Reading Contest for young adult readers. As kids grow into teens, parents, teachers and librarians often help them find age appropriate reading material. While many students pursue their love for reading independently, the library is a great place for those who are still searching.

Everyone likes to read, but sometimes it is a challenge to discover exactly what they like to read. That’s the purpose of summer reading—to read books we might not read during the school year and discover those authors and genres that make reading a great pastime for any season. Pelham Public Library’s Junior Librarians program helps young adults in our community realize that they always have a place at the library. Especially during the ice skating party, that’s a remarkably cool concept.