Destiny Armstrong and Jada Young, right, peruse the book selection at the free books table.

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Children expressed creativity using sidewalk chalk.

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Angela Jones, left, speaks to Annie Mae Owens of Winnsboro about possibly starting a new 4 H program.

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Children got into the spirit of the day and had fun in the bouncy houses.

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Kalisha Gaither gets her face painted by Lashonda Holmes, left.

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"I want that one." Charlie Bonds picks out a Harry, the dirty dog book, as his free book. All children received one free book at the event.

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Rising second grader Danna Kennedy signs up for summer reading, with the help of an adult.

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Wait til I get finished with this sidewalk chalk drawing.

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Kevin Boozer

Staff writer

WINNSBORO — Parents, grandparents and youth dug into summer reading on June 2 at the Fairfield County Library’s annual kickoff event.

From EMS demonstrations to 4-H display to autographed books by a local author, there were a variety of activities to entertain and educate from an environment conducive to reading.

Several young people volunteered to help with the event, including Omar and Marquez Pauling. The two boys have been helping for two to three years to set up tables and show books to younger children.

“It is fun to help kids to be better at reading (like people did for us),” said Marquez Pauling.

All children received goodie bags and the ice cream served was a real hit on a warm Saturday. Children registered for the library’s summer reading program and they were all given one free book to help get them started on their reading goals.

Librarian Sarah McMaster said she was pleased by the turnout and the variety of activities they offered. She said she hopes to see a good many of the youth who attended the event coming into the library at either the Winnsboro or the Ridgeway locations.

If students read for 10 hours per summer they are eligible to receive a medal for summer reading, provided they make four library visits over the summer. Those books can include reading for Accelerated Reader and Reading Counts tests. Now the library is a site where students can take those tests over the summer and then apply to scores to their school work in the fall.

Reach Kevin Boozer at 635-4016 ext. 14 or at kboozer@civitasmedia.com.