By ALEC ETHEREDGE | Staff Writer

CHELSEA – The Friends of Chelsea Library is hosting a free treasure hunt for children fifth grade and under at the Chelsea Public Library.

Kids will go on the treasure hunt, make a mask, get pictures and enjoy candy at the event, which is taking place on Saturday, Oct. 22, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“It’s just something cool for the kids to enjoy,” said Friends of Chelsea Library President Geneva Talmadge. “It will help enhance what we have at the library.”

Kids will get a treasure map that will lead them on an adventurous hunt for coins throughout the library using several different props.

There will be several different materials to make their mask with, and the goal is for participants to find the coins to buy those items.

“They have so many electronic devices these days that it’s easy to forget about the library,” Talmadge said. “We even have equipment that will connect to their electronics now such as movies, audio books they can download to their Nook and other things.

Talmadge mentioned this is the first time they have done this event, but the goal is to get people out of the house and do something active and mind provoking.

She also said they may try to incorporate a Halloween theme with pumpkins and Halloween books in the treasure hunt.

The Friends of the Library will be asking for new members to join as well, which is as simple as filling out a form and paying a small fee.

“We do programs like this so we can help the library and raise money for the librarians,” Talmadge said. “We are also trying to raise money for a new library because the current one is a little old and too small; we’ve definitely outgrown it.”