PARIS — The Paris Public Library is participating in “Maine Scratch Day” from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 17.

Scratch is a computer programming language and online community where people can create interactive stories, games and animations, and share creations with an active online community with hundreds of thousands of registered members.

Projects are created by snapping together blocks, as one would snap together LEGO bricks or puzzle pieces. Scratch makes programming easier, because the drag-and-drop interface and visual structure help with many of the elements of programming that can be most difficult.

Creating a simple project can take just minutes. Yet Scratch offers enough tools to build interesting and useful projects that do a wide variety of things, and the Scratch Community allows people to share projects and learn from others.

In the process of designing and programming Scratch projects, young people learn to think creatively, reason systematically and work collaboratively.

Designed primarily for youth ages 8-16, Scratch can be used by everyone, including young children, with adult help, and adults who enjoy creative and fun things. Scratch is a project of the MIT Media Lab and is available free at scratch.mit.edu. Scratch is included on the MLTI laptop devices.

Scratch Day features informal events where people join together to learn about Scratch, work on projects and share experiences.

The event at the Paris Public Library is intended to introduce Scratch to beginners, but more advanced Scratchers are welcome to share their experience and projects. The library will have several laptops available, but participants are encouraged to bring their own computers or tablets.

To register for Scratch Day and receive a free USB wristband, go to reachcenter.me/resources/scratch-day-in-maine-2014. For information or to register, call the library at 743-6994 or email [email protected]. Registration is not required to participate in the free event, but it is necessary, by Wednesday, May 14, to receive the USB wristband.