Patty Shelton, the new children’s and youth service coordinator for the Lincoln County Public Library, started her new job in September and she hasn’t look back – much.

“I loved working for Dr. Charles Kergosien,” she said of her former receptionist job she held for more than 15 years. “I loved who I worked for and who I worked with.

“But I’ve always loved books and being creative. So when I saw this job posted, I said no to myself several times, but then finally felt God saying ‘go on – give it a try.’ And I applied.”

The job became hers, so Shelton knew it was meant to be. “It was God’s timing, so I realized that it was time for that change,” she said.

Shelton, who has been married to Check Shelton for 19 years, was born and raised in Wesson. As she grew up, she found she enjoyed helping with Vacation Bible Schools and other projects, such as being a Boy Scout leader for years. The couple has two sons – Channell, 15, and Brenlee, 13, – and the family lives in Wesson.

The only downside Shelton has found in life so far is that her sons aren’t into reading. “I mean, you would think…?” she said with a laugh, her hands spreading wide.

But she’s not daunted by issue.

“I hope to help children understand that when you read, you are transported into another place, another time,” she said. “Reading is so much fun. You learn so much and you’re entertained and you’re educated. You travel to places you probably couldn’t go otherwise. I hope I can help children find [this magic] that reading can be.”

Shelton’s already hit the ground running for the summer. “I want kids to come to the library to see what we offer because we know they want to learn and maybe from this learning they can learn to love reading.”

To start things off, Shelton has planned May “Caffeine and Class Notes” for teens. Students can attend May 16-18 from 4 p.m. to closing time at 7 p.m. with a study buddy and study guides for final exam study sessions. The library will provide the “caffeine” and students should bring “the knowledge.” On May 16, the first meeting, those gathered can participate in a small craft project to kick things off.

In June, Summer library begins May 6, with the first event – celebrating World Oceans Day, which occurs June 8. Each Monday students or parents can pickup a “Grab & Go” packet of activities: Monday, June 6, is for “Ocean Week,” Monday, June 13, is for “Fish Week,” Monday, June 20, is for “Pirate Week,” and Monday, June 27, is for “Shark Week.”

Every Tuesday is a youth program from 2 to 3 p.m., and the Lego Club meeting June 14 and June 21 is from 4 to 5 p.m.

Every Wednesday at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. is “Storytime.” June’s Storytime will be under the theme of “Commotion in the Ocean.”

At 2 p.m. Thursdays in June, children can enjoy [not scary] clowns (June 9), a magician (June 16), and a petting zoo of exotic animals (June 23). An “End of Summer” library luau will be held at 10 a.m. on the final Thursday, June 30.

For Father’s Day celebrations, on Friday, June 17, the library will have “Donuts with Daddy” at 10 a.m.

For more information about these events – and others that might be planned – call Shelton at 601-515-2208. Learn more about World Oceans Day at worldoceansday.org.

Click here for a printable version of the summer calendar.