CONTRIBUTED

The Friends of the Given Memorial Library and Tufts Archives say that this year's summer reading program at the library will be bigger and better than ever.

Registration begins on Monday, June 22, anytime between noon through 3 p.m. and is open to kindergarten through fifth grade. Registration will be ongoing throughout the summer at the library and a representative will be available in the library each week to assist the children with book selections ranging from exotic animals to acrobats.

"There are many exciting elements to this year's program," say co-chairs Sue Bower and Barbara Gault.

There will be a contest to guess the number of peanuts in the jar, and the winning guess will be presented with a beautiful stuffed elephant provided by Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus.

All children involved will also have an opportunity to win a package of four tickets to the Ringling Brothers Circus.

The program will also include a puppet show, "Aesop's Fables," which will be free and open to the public and performed by the Red Herring Puppet Troupe at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 27, at The Village Chapel.

Complimentary refreshments will be served at the Given Memorial Library immediately following the show.

Rounding out the summer program will be "Clowning Around at Given" July 9, at 3:30 p.m. and will include comedy, magic and more.

All events are free of charge and open to the public.

Given Memorial Library and Tufts Archives, the Pinehurst History Museum, which is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the community with the best library services and preservation of the unique history of Pinehurst.

Call 910-295-6022 or visit us online at www.tuftsarchives. org for more information.