It’s homework disguised as fun.

The annual Summer Reading Program at the Hays Public Library kicked off Thursday with a huge party upstairs in the Children’s Department.

This year’s theme is “Dig Into Reading.”  Special guest “Buddy the Snake” from the Sternberg Museum of Natural History attended the event.  Participants also got to dig “dino” bones provided by Sternberg.

Youth Services Director Brandon Hines had the honor of unveiling a new permanent resident of the Children’s Department, a triceratops  dinosaur made of wood, and donated to the library by the Hays Optimist Club.

Other activities included a dance party featuring Ninja Lego with music by DJ Cain, a tattoo parlor and Age of the Dinosaurs photo shoot.

The children also got to choose free books to take home with them.

Thursday was Hines’ last day at the Hays Public Library.  He’s accepted the Library Director position with the Coffey County Library System based in Burlington.