Ada, of Kearneysville, strings together a row of colorful beads at the Summer Reading Program kickoff party at the Shepherdstown Public Library on Saturday. Photo by Tabitha Johnston

SHEPHERDSTOWN — Children could be found running around, chasing streams of bubbles on the patio of the Shepherdstown Public Library on Saturday afternoon, during the annual kickoff party for the library’s Summer Reading Program.

The Summer Reading Program’s theme, “Color Our World,” was clearly reflected in the numerous activities featured at the party, according to Youth Services Librarian Jessie Ward.

“A lot of the things we’re doing here today are about color,” Ward said. “Many of our programs this summer will, similarly, be focused on color.”

Ward pointed out that, at the kickoff party, color could be found in every activity: the colorful paint blot crafting station, the bubble machine, the snow cone booth, the coloring station, the button making station, the sock puppet crafting station and the bracelet making station. Throughout the summer, various events like a “Teen Comics Workshop” with Shepherdstown artist Danielle Corsetto, a science workshop about rainbows and a painting workshop with Do-Art Productions will continue to highlight that theme.

“Reading adds color to everyone’s life,” Ward said of the theme, which was selected by the American Library Association for libraries across the nation to use this summer. “And in my experience working in the children’s department, I’ve come to realize that color is a big part of childhood. So it’s a theme that really hits home.”

Shepherdstown Public Library volunteer Pam DiLucente, right, explains how to make a multicolored paint blot at the Summer Reading Program kickoff party on Saturday. Photo by Tabitha Johnston

Youth Services Director Rachel Heller headed up the organization of the Summer Reading Program, with the help of Ward. For Heller, the kickoff party was a wonderful way to encourage local families to get involved with the library programming this summer. This program, she said, enables the library to ensure children retain more knowledge through the summer, so they will be able to enter the new school year with confidence.

“One of the goals of the Summer Reading Program is to bring more people to the library, in a big part, because we want to keep the literacy rates of kids high. That’s always a challenge, especially for the public school students, with them not being in school for a couple of months,” Heller said. “It’s all about bringing more people into the library, getting it more well known and helping kids continue to read over the summer. And, we’re also providing them with the Middle School Math Club — that continues to keep their math skills developed, as well. We want to fill in the gap for them, in some ways.”

She noted that, although there is an academic purpose behind the program, it also will provide children with many opportunities to have fun. Children who visit the library every week to get their reading signed off on, will receive a ticket to participate in a raffle to win tickets to JayDee’s Family Fun Center in Inwood or River Riders in Harpers Ferry. If they complete the program’s reading goal by Aug. 15, they will win a coupon book to businesses in Shepherdstown, like Rock Hill Creamery and Amy & Alex’s Homemade Ice Cream & Coffee.

According to Shepherdstown resident Latifa McGoldrick, this is the second year her son will be participating in the Summer Reading Program. Her son may have two years yet before he enters school, but through fun educational activities like those offered at the library this summer, she believes he will come to love learning from an early age and, inevitably, thrive in school.

“It’s pretty fun, as well as motivating, to participate in a program like this,” McGoldrick said. “He loves this little library.”

Zackery McGoldrick, Jr., of Shepherdstown, finishes off a snow cone at the Summer Reading Program kickoff party at the Shepherdstown Public Library on Saturday. Photo by Tabitha Johnston

Those interested in participating in the program may learn more at sheplibrary.org or by visiting the library at 145 Higbee Lane in Shepherdstown.

An Adult Summer Reading Bingo, with a prize raffle, is also being held at the library, now through Aug. 15. To learn more, visit the library or its website, sheplibrary.org, or contact Adult Services Librarian Addison Reese at addison@sheplibrary.org.