Do pirates take baths? Only the volunteer reader at Judge George W. Armstrong Library knows. But she gladly will share the information when she reads a very special book to children taking part in the summer reading program at the library in the coming weeks.

Pirates are not the only titillating subjects that will tug at children’s imaginations during the six-weeks program.

With &uot;Books Ahoy: Discover Treasures in Books&uot; as the theme, children will explore a world filled with fascinating characters and plots.

Registration now is open for the program, which begins on June 3 and continues through July 10, with Tuesdays reserved for children in pre-kindergarten through second grade and Thursdays, for third- through sixth-graders.

Library Director Susan Cassagne hopes parents or legal guardians will begin to sign up children this week, beginning Tuesday, when the library reopens after the Memorial Day holiday.

&uot;We urge parents and guardians to come before the program begins so all the things they have to do to register and get library cards can be taken care of ahead of time,&uot; Cassagne said.

To be sure the process goes smoothly, these are things parents or legal guardians should know:

4First, the parent or legal guardian must accompany the child to register and get the library card. It can’t be a big brother or sister or the babysitter, for example.

4A

child must be 5 years old to receive his or her own card. Parents therefore must obtain cards in order to check out materials for the younger children.

4Information required from those seeking library cards includes proof of address and Social Security number. Proof of address can include driver’s license with up-to-date address on it or copy of a bill that has been sent to the registrant at his or her home address.

The programs will be 10 to 11:30 a.m. and will include storytelling and reading aloud by volunteers with a variety of backgrounds.

The mornings will end with crafts and games, many related to the &uot;Books Ahoy&uot; theme.

With a desire of bridging a gap between school terms, library workers hope to inspire young people to a passion for reading.

&uot;Children who discover books find out they can do anything they wish,&uot; Cassagne said. &uot;They discover wonderful information, as well.&uot;

Reading breeds good attitudes in young people and helps to foster tolerance and curiosity.

&uot;And parents shouldn’t worry if their young children want to read the same kinds of things all the time,&uot; Cassagne said. &uot;Give them time. They will branch out and find other things to explore. The important thing is that they read.&uot;

More information is available. The library is on South Commerce Street at the intersection with Washington Street. The phone number is 445-8862.