ABOVE: Do Art Productions artist, performer and public speaker Jerry Moffitt teaches students ages 6 and up how to plan and draw a comic strip during the Do Art Comic Workshop on Wednesday afternoon in the downstairs classroom at the Martin County Library in Fairmont. This event was one of the offerings as part of the newly introduced summer reading program, “Unearth a Story” at the Martin County Library branches in Fairmont, Sherburn, Trimont and Truman.

FAIRMONT– The Martin County Library branches of Fairmont, Sherburn, Trimont and Truman are roaring with new dino-themed opportunities. They have officially launched the children’s summer reading program, “Unearth A Story.”

“It’s exciting. It’s fun,” said Children’s and Young Adult (YA) Librarian Michele Nelson.

The Martin County Library deems this summer reading program theme a fit for any children interested in dinosaurs and nature. To best follow the theme, many of the offerings center on paleontology, archeology and nature.

“Dinosaurs are always popular with kids. We try to rotate through a variety of things,” Nelson said, regarding the Martin County Library’s decision for the theme.

To select a theme for the summer reading program, the Martin County Library often collaborates with programs and companies, especially the Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP), for promotional materials that help make the program a success. Nelson has been preparing for Unearth a Story since January.

Many of the events include Mini Mondays, T(w)een Tuesdays, Fun-Tastic Thursdays, Family Fridays, Diggin’ It, Sustainable Safari, Library Palooza, STEM, 4-H, storytime, reading, bookmark reading challenges, presentations, arts and crafts and more.

“You know, we want to make things accessible to kids, and have them have a good time, and offer a variety of events that all of them are able to participate in and enjoy,” Nelson explained.

She added that many of these events can also open doors for children’s enrichment.

“I think it’s important to keep kids reading throughout the summer, and we tried to give them lots of different opportunities to be able to do that, because not all kids are going to be at the same reading level or interested in the same kind of thing. So, we try to offer a variety of different things to keep them going with their reading so they don’t fall behind during the summer and they keep that going,” Nelson shared.

She is excited to see everything come together as events roll out one by one this summer.

“It was fun to see so many people in here during [last] summer and all the different faces. Every week, we have people who are in town visiting family, and it’s a lot of fun. A lot of grandparents are bringing kids in. We have grandparents who’ll keep them home from daycare so they can bring them to the library. So then, we see a lot of kids that we don’t see during the school year and a lot of families. So, it’s a lot of fun,” Nelson said.

She encourages families to partake in the Unearth a Story reading program, especially if they’re seeking summer events.

“Families seem to always, especially with little kids, their hearts are looking for things for them to do during the summer, and I think we offer a good variety that will cater to everyone and everyone will be willing to find something,” Nelson said.

The Martin County Library branches are located at 110 North Park Street in Fairmont, 21 East 1st Street in Sherburn, 190 West Main Street in Trimont and 101 East Ciro Street in Truman.

For additional information about upcoming events and offerings at the Martin County Library branches, contact the libraries at (507) 238-4207 (Fairmont), (507) 764-7611 (Sherburn), (507) 639-2571 (Trimont), (507) 776-2717 (Truman) or visit martincountylibrary.org.