PORT TOWNSEND — The Port Townsend Library will begin its summer reading program with everything from do-it-yourself artwork to storytelling.
The celebration will be from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday at the library at 1220 Lawrence St.
While signing up for the summer reading program, participants can decorate the sidewalk with chalk drawings, eat snacks, listen to live music, make flower-seed bombs and settle in for stories with local storyteller Aimee Ringle.
The 2017 program is, like other libraries on the North Olympic Peninsula, structured around the theme “Build a Better World,” with activities for patrons of all ages.
“For our 2016 Summer Read program, we set an ambitious goal to see if participants could read at least 10,000 hours,” said Library Director Melody Sky Eisler on the website at www.ptpubliclibrary.org. “Our community triumphantly surpassed that goal by reading more than 13,000 hours.
“What enchanted me the most last summer was the delight I saw from our adult participants — some of whom read over 200 hours.”
The goal this year is again 10,000 hours.
Each child or teen who reads 10 hours will receive a free book. Each participant who reads 50 hours will win a T-shirt designed by local artist Annalisa Barelli. Adults who read 100 hours will get that T-shirt, too.
The end-of-summer reading party will be from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 11.
Games, watermelon and popsicles are planned.
For more information, see the library’s website or call 360-385-3181.