By Becky Nichols

The sensational Selma spring skies have been amazing lately.

Even though it seems that every other day we get a cloud and some rain, the returning warm sunshine has made everyone have a burst of spring fever. Around your library, we are bursting with some great new seasons ahead and a few surprises for everyone.

For one thing, if it is spring, then the famous Selma summer cannot be far behind. Our library summer events are legendary for their fun for all ages and for all family members.

This year’s program called “Imagination Summer” is truly one of our best so far. From animals to magic to snakes and dinosaurs and all in between, we are rolling out the carpet on Monday morning, June 10, at 10:00 a.m. for our opening magic show.

Filling in the days from June 10 through the end of the program will be our own puppet shows, Open House Art events, special crafts and music and of course, our Imagination Summer Reading Club.

We are challenging every child to read at least twenty books this summer and hopefully more than that. This is not contest, but a chance for our boys and girls to slow down from their hectic school schedule and enjoy reading alone or together with families. With plenty of book choices, we are ready to help them find the right books or series and get them started on the wonderful road of reading.

Coming along also this summer for our adult readers and actually all readers — will be our new digital book service. Through a consortium of Alabama libraries called CamelliaNet, we will be able to offer eBooks through a joint membership with a huge global distributor of digital products called OverDrive.

How do you download a title? It’s easy but guess what you must have before you can get started —  a library card in good standing.

As part of our National Library Week celebration, we offered a Fine Free opportunity for folks to clear their library card and help the Food Bank. The result is we did help the Food Bank and many cards were cleared of obstructions to this new service. We will be offering more information and pretty much going” live” on this new service at the beginning of June so stay tuned to your local newspaper for more information.

Schedules for Imagination Summer are already on our website, www.selmalibrary.org, and brochures are available in the Children’s Department now.