By KATIE GUERIN / Community Columnist

The summer months usually signal lazy days and a more relaxed pace of life.

This is not true for anyone who takes the time to visit their local library.

June and July are the two busiest months at most public libraries, and North Shelby Library is no exception.

If you happened to drive by the library on June 4, you may have witnessed a full parking lot and hundreds of families on their way to the Children’s Summer Reading Kickoff party to enjoy bouncy castles, crafts, games, face painting and delicious snacks.

On June 6, the teen participants had their party at Treetop Family Adventures and played putt-putt and laser tag, raced go-karts and played dozens of arcade games.

The parties are the official start to almost non-stop programming at the library that includes magicians, storytellers, jugglers, movies, animals and much more.

For months, staff at the library has been planning every aspect of the summer to ensure that the reading program is a success.

Children’s librarian Cecelia Dean enjoys the planning process, but said, “My favorite part is when the library is full of kids excited about reading, having a great time picking out good books and enjoying the many great programs we offer.”

The library offers reading programs for patrons of all ages.

Each program offers a variety of ways in which members are encouraged to read. In the children’s program, each time a child reaches his/her reading goal, the child is given a “library dollar” to spend in the prize and candy stocked general store.

For teens, a Battle of the Books competition is held in which winners are given gift certificates to local stores. In the adult program, participants complete comment cards about the books they read from which a weekly prize is drawn.

These are just a few examples of ways in which participants are encouraged to read, read, read!

Registration for each of the programs continues into July, and the library hopes to surpass the 1,400 people that took part last year.

For more information, contact the library at 439-5500, or Northshelbylibrary.org.

Katie Guerin can be reached by email at katie.guerin@gmail.com.