Intercourse Library plans Family Fun Day

"This is the second (Family Fun Day and Summer Reading Kickoff)," said Catherine O'Sullivan, director of the Intercourse Library. "(The first event) was held in 2022 to kick off the library's Summer Reading Program and offer a day for families." The event was so successful - attracting about 200 people - it is planned again this year.

The 2023 Intercourse Library Family Fun Day and Summer Reading Kickoff will be held on Saturday, June 3, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the library, 31 Center St., Intercourse. The event will include games, food, and the start of the used book sale, which will be held in the Perella Schoolhouse area of the library that day and during regular library hours through Saturday, June 10. Patrons of the Salisbury Township Public Library in Gap are invited to attend.

Activities scheduled for the Family Fun Day will include face painting, giant yard games such as Connect Four and an inflatable dart game with a large bullseye. Children's librarian Christy Burke said there will be a scavenger hunt inside the library. "(Participants) will answer questions and then pick out a book to take home for free," she said. O'Sullivan added that blank bookmarks will be available for a "design your own" craft. Cookie decorating will also be held, with one free cookie available per child.

Hot dogs will be sold for a nominal cost, and free popcorn will be available.

A fun run for children will be divided by age group. Children ages 4 to 7 will race at 9:30 and 11 a.m., and children ages 8 to 12 will race at 9:45 and 11:15 a.m. A preschool fun run for children under age 4 will be held just prior to the race for 8- to 12-year-olds.

The day will kick off the Summer Reading Program, which for 2023 has the theme "All Together Now." Burke reported that many Intercourse-area children traditionally take part. "We usually have more than 500 (participants), and we get more than 1,000 (reading) logs back," she pointed out, adding that the program will run from June 3 through Saturday, Aug. 12.

In addition to picking up reading logs at the kickoff, children will receive a calendar of special events that will be held at the Intercourse Library during the summer. Among the events will be visits from Forgotten Friend Reptile Sanctuary and Talewise, an interactive story time program. "The Lancaster Science Factory will do a robotics program," said O'Sullivan, who added that a representative of the Lancaster County Department of Parks and Recreation will also visit with a program.

According to Burke and O'Sullivan, local businesses have traditionally contributed coupons or prizes for the Summer Reading Program participants, in addition to the ones associated with the county-wide program. "It gives our branch extra coupons," said Burke, who noted that Cherry Crest and Oola Bowls will offer discounts to Intercourse and Gap reading program participants. Along with Summer Reading Program events, family-friendly movies will be shown throughout the summer.

O'Sullivan noted that information about the events may be found at the library's new website, https://intercourselib.org.