Summer Reading Program
During the Summer months, the Polk County Library participates in the North Carolina Summer Reading Club Program. The Children's Services Coordinator offers programs at the Columbus and Saluda libraries for eight consecutive weeks from June through August, related to a chosen theme. 

Learn and Play Storytime The Family Literacy Learn and Play Storytime program, originally sponsored by the Polk County Partnership for Children through the Smart Start initiative in North Carolina, is now an ongoing program sustained by the Polk County Public Library in Saluda and Columbus, and by the DSS Fun 'N Learning Resource Library in Tryon.

Preschool Storytime
The Children's Services Coordinator offers stories, songs and fun at 10:30 a.m. every Tuesday in Columbus and at 10:30 a.m. every Wednesday in Saluda.  Activities are appropriate for preschoolers aged 18 months to five years, accompanied by a caregiver.  There will be a brief break in the schedule in August, 2003.  Call the library to learn when storytime will resume.  

After School Reader's Club
On the third Wednesday of each month, the Polk County Library in Columbus offers a reading program for children aged 8-14, with Children's Services Coordinator. Club members will discuss books they've read and engage in library games like trivia and scavenger hunts. 

Afternoon Programs
On the second and fourth Thursdays of each month, the library will sponsor special programs for children ages 5 and up.  These programs could include theme-related story times and craft activities, as well as special guests (magicians, artists, musicians, etc.) who will share their expertise.

Other Library Projects for Children & Young Adults
Information about local, regional, statewide, national or international library programs for children and young adults.

The Very Best Place to Start Campaign
The Very Best Place to Start is a three-year, statewide publicity campaign in North Carolina which began in April, 2000, during National Library Week, with the purpose of focusing attention on what libraries and librarians can do for children and young adults doing research at their local public or school library.

The launch event during National Library Week included the "Start Me Up" contest, in which daily prizes were awarded at the Library to winners who submitted game cards for the drawings after completing research on a topic of their choice at the Library, with the help of a librarian.

At the end of the Start Me Up contest, game cards were sent to Raleigh for a statewide drawing for even bigger prizes. Samantha Gail Allison, who played the game at the Polk County Public Library, was chosen as one of three Grand Prize winners in the statewide contest, and won an IBM Think Pad laptop computer.