The Fayette

County Public Library celebrated its fourth anniversary Saturday, Jan.

13.

In the four

years since its inception, the library has introduced new readers to the

joy of reading, while playing an important cultural and educational role

to all Fayette County residents. In the past year, the library has continued

its programs, such as its Summer Reading Club and Baby Time and Tot Time

programs, while launching new programs that entertain and bring the community

closer together.

The Summer

Reading Club had 1,500 members last year, including 136 teenagers and

404 adults. There were two programs each week, open to the public and

free of charge, thanks to funds raised by the Friends of the Fayette County

Library. The programs included storytellers, musicians, magicians, ventriloquists,

clowns and theater groups.

Prizes were

handed out each week to children 2-11 who come to the library each week.

The club reads for enjoyment, instead of for time, and books read to a

child count as if the child has read them. The Summer Reading Club will

start up again at the end of the school year and will run until August.

Also offered

during the summer is the Character First program in which children learn

different character values and morals. The program is special because

local teenagers and the children themselves will help lead others in the

group through the lessons.

Another program

to get children interested in the library at a young age is the Babes

and Tot programs. On an average week, 100-150 children from birth to 4

years old come in for story time. The Babes and Tots programs give babies

and their parents or care givers an opportunity to learn and play together.

The group is separated between walking babies and non-walking babies and

each program develops language and motor skills development.

Babes and Tots

story time will start up again Jan. 31 at 10 a.m. Terrific Tuesdays story

time for children 2-4 will start up again Jan. 30. The program will run

from 10-11 a.m.

The library

also offers Spanish classes for children and adults, Internet classes

for beginners and advanced users, classes on using Word 97 and Excel 97,

adult literacy courses, academic enrichment courses for students in kindergarten

through ninth grade. The classes are offered free to the public and the

library's patrons.

The library

also has fun days, including the