"Have you always wanted to find hidden treasure? Are you good at following clues? Do you love adventure? If you answered yes to any of these questions, and you are a child in grades K-5, come to the Southern Pines Public Library program, 'Geocaching,'" says library staff member Saerica Hamilton.

In the modern world, one of the best ways to experience hunting for treasure is with geocaching. With geocaching, GPS coordinates or clues are given, and the hunter has to put them together to find hidden objects. The pursuit makes hunters use their brains, skills and sometimes bravery to track down clues and locate the hidden "caches."

At this special Family Fun Night program, children will listen to a reading of the book "Miss Smith's Incredible Storybook," by Michael Garland. Then Scott Cole, a local geocaching expert, will teach them about geocaching, and they will begin their treasure hunt through the library, following clues to find a hidden treasure inside a book. Children will discover new things about the library as they locate clues in different ways, such as using a map, consulting a computer, or talking with a staff member.

"Of course, reading is the most important key to solving the clues, so this is another opportunity for children to show how 'Southern Pines is Growing Great Readers,'" says Director Lynn Thompson. "We know that parents are often looking for ways to help their children succeed in school. The goal of Family Fun Night is to support parents by providing fun activities to do with their children that also reinforce key skills like listening, thinking, writing and reading."

To make it easier on the family's evening schedule, participants are invited to conclude the evening with a free dinner, courtesy of the Friends of Southern Pines Public Library.

The fun begins at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 21.

For more information on the program, contact the library at (910) 692-8235.

The Southern Pines Public Library is located at 170 W. Connecticut Ave. and is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m.

The catalog and other information about the library are available at www.sppl.net.