Libraries: I’ve always loved a library. My first was in an attic-like space at Kilgour Elementary School in Cincinnati; there I waited excitedly for my turn with the beautifully illustrated “A Little Princess.” Next, a small branch library where I began the Little House on the Prairie series and read and re-read an all-time romantic tale called “Pam’s Paradise Ranch.” My social conscience was still sleeping sweetly: if it wasn’t much fun to work on Pam’s ranch it sure was great to be Pam, and I could relate to her.

Years and miles later, I’m still a library junkie, and I’m delighted to know that our River Valley library staffers are hooking the younger generation. After school hours, kids throng to the Rumford library. And come summer, our three libraries serve up irresistible delights for kids.

Paws, Claws, Scales and Tales: Summer programs for kids at Ludden Library, Dixfield, and the Rumford Library share that theme. Both offered a snake program – always draws the biggest crowd, I’m told – early in the season. Coming up at both libraries are Smokey the Bear and Charlie Who.

Mexico’s summer reading program is a little different. For one thing, it runs longer – right through August; Ludden and Rumford close down July 28 and Aug. 1, respectively.

All three libraries have reading incentive programs that offer prizes to kids who read a lot of books or read a lot of hours. The Ludden ladies were modeling one of the prizes when I stopped there to get a summer schedule: red T-shirts emblazoned “Paws, Claws, Scales and Tales.”

Mexico Library Director Valerie Messard told me that 108 children signed up for the reading incentive program. “We’re doing really well here,” she said. I guess so. One-hundred-eight is a good chunk of the town’s population of 2,996 (though Valerie pointed out that a few of the kids are from Byron and Roxbury).

Rumford’s children’s librarian Ginny Todd keeps perennial favorites on her summer menu; picnic in the park Friday series opens with a favorite reader, Barbara Hammond, and closes with the Teddy Bear Picnic.

If your kids or grandkids or neighbors’ kids haven’t yet partaken of the summer library programs, get em there.

Ludden Library, Dixfield: 562-8838; Mexico Library, 364-3281; Rumford Library, 364-3661.

Linda Farr Macgregor and her husband, Jim, live in Rumford. She is a freelance writer and the author of “Rumford Stories.”