"Escape the winter doldrums and come see some beauty," said Kim Beach, operations coordinator for the Milanof-Schock Library, pointing the community to the annual the Student Art Show. "It's energizing to see people's faces as they look at the art and to hear their comments. I like to walk around, and I'll hear people say, 'Oh my goodness. Did you see this one?'"

The Student Art Show will be held on Saturday, Jan. 28, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the library, 1184 Anderson Ferry Road, Mount Joy. New this year, it will feature art from students at all Donegal School District schools. In the past, the show has featured art from junior high and high school students, Beach said, noting, "This year, we decided to ask the elementary and intermediate schools if they'd like to participate."

The show will feature a variety of art mediums. "You'll see painting, chalk art, ceramic pottery and figures and some photography," Beach commented. Some art will be displayed in a case in the lobby, with the rest of the show inside the library's program room. Beach said she hopes to get 65 pieces of art to showcase.

"When people come in, they'll be met by a greeter in the lobby who will give them a program and a pen to comment on the art," Beach said. "There will be comment cards at the tables, and people can write what they think about the art and then drop their comments off in a bowl when they leave." The comments are invariably positive, she noted, and students will have the opportunity to see what the community thought of their art when their piece and its comments are returned to them after the show.

Beach said she enjoys promoting the student artists who might come to the show with their friends and family. "If I know there is an artist in the room, I make sure people know, 'This is one of our artists,' so the kids can get some in-person glory, too," she said.

The Student Art Show began five years ago as a way for the library to participate in Main Street Mount Joy's Festival of the Arts, which will be held this year on Friday, Jan. 27, and Saturday, Jan. 28. "Come in and check out our art and then head downtown to see all of the art at Mount Joy's show," Beach said.

She credits event sponsor Nolt Electric Inc. and Premier Linen Company, which donated the use of table linens, with helping to make the art show a success. "The art show is such a positive, beautiful experience. Who knew the depths of talents of kids this young?" she said. "It doesn't cost a thing to come and see some student art."