Youngsters will be able to "visit" many areas of the United States this summer - all through the Village Library of Morgantown's Summer Reading Program, themed "Summer Quest: Adventure Begins at Your Library."

The official kickoff of the program took place on June 10, and it featured a performance by ventriloquist Marian and Friends. During the interactive show, youngsters enjoyed meeting various characters, including Forrest the duck. They also learned that their own two hands could be used as puppets.

Children's librarian Pam Mohl announced that the Summer Reading Program will feature story times on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 10 a.m. through Aug. 8. There will be no programs on Thursday, June 20, or on Wednesday and Thursday, July 3 and 4.

Wednesday programs, open to children of all ages, will include a story, an activity and a craft. On Thursdays, the story, activity and craft will be geared toward preschoolers.

"Each week we will 'visit' a different state," Mohl said, noting the sessions will teach children fun facts about the state. She noted that states from different regions of the country will be featured. For example, on Wednesday, June 19, students will learn about Vermont, and on Wednesday, June 26, South Carolina will be the topic.

She also announced the library's upcoming special events, including a Pokemon Club, open to youths ages 10 to 18, on Monday, June 24, from 3 to 5 p.m. and Lego Club on Saturday, June 29, at 10 a.m., open to families.

The kickoff event also provided youths an opportunity to pick up their summer reading packet. Individuals who are not signed up can still register by picking up a reading log at the library's circulation desk.

As part of the program, participants are asked to fill in a space on their reading log for every 20 minutes they read or, for younger students, have books read to them. "You can listen to books on tape, and that counts, too," Mohl pointed out, noting that the goal is for each child to read for 1,000 minutes.

When they reach 250 minutes, children are asked to bring their reading logs into the library. Children will receive a small prize and a token for the library's prize vending machine, as well as a ticket for a larger prize. "We will keep your tickets, and at the end, there will be a drawing for a $50 gift card - one for kids and one for a teen," noted Mohl, adding that children may also earn extra tickets for the drawing by attending library programs.

The Summer Reading Program is also open to adults. "For adults, there will be a book review sheet at the desk where they can write (the name of) the book they read, the author and give the book a star rating of 1 to 5," added library director Carol Donahue. "They will also get a ticket for an end-of-summer prize."

Also featured at the library this summer are products for sale by local businesses, including pottery, jewelry, honey, talon soap, crocheted items and handmade dolls. "We are also getting in chocolates, soy and beeswax candles, oil painting prints, watercolor prints and stained glass," Donahue added. These items can be purchased at the circulation desk.

The Village Library is located at 207 N. Walnut St., Morgantown. For more information about the Summer Reading Program, call 610-286-1022 or visit http://www.villagelibrary.org or http://www.facebook.com/VillageLibraryofMorgantown.