Patten Free Library will celebrate Teen Read Week (October 13-19) with special events and programs aimed at encouraging teens from throughout the library service area to get to know their library and to read for the fun it.

Thousands of libraries, schools, and bookstores across the country will hold similar events centered on this year’s theme, “Seek the unknown at your library.”

“We’re excited about Teen Read Week this year because it is the first time we’ve enlisted the help of our Teen Library Council to help plan activities and events,” said Roberta Jordan, an outreach and instruction librarian at the Bath library, who coordinates the group. “They have come up with some great ideas that we hope will draw lots of teens to the library.”

On Tuesday, Oct. 15, the week will open with an unveiling of an “Explore the Unknown” book display. Teen Library Council members have compiled a list of their favorite books of all time and will cover them all in brown paper wrapping.

The display will encourage readers to have a “blind date” with a great book. The display will be available for browsing and check-out when the library opens at 10 a.m. through Saturday, Oct. 19. Teen Library Council members will be on hand to conduct short video interviews with teens about the books they love.

On Wednesday, Oct. 16, Morse High School science teacher Julie Larosa will offer an introduction to forensics with a fingerprinting workshop from 3-4 p.m.

On Thursday, Oct. 17, Teen Library Council members and other teen volunteers will get to know a “book buddy” between the ages of four and eight in the Children’s Room, sharing their favorite picture books and beginning the process of creating a book about them. Children interested in being paired with a teen book buddy should contact the Children’s librarian, Carol McFadden.

On Friday, Oct. 18, the week of activities will conclude with “Explore the Unknown with the Twilight Zone,” with a “teens only” movie showing beginning at 3 p.m. in the Library’s second floor community room.

There will also be light refreshments available in the Teen Space every afternoon after school and at the movie showing on Friday. All activities are offered are free and open to high school students.

Teen Read Week is a national adolescent literacy initiative created by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association. It is held annually during the third week of October.

For more information, visit www.ala.org/teenread. For more information about the Patten events, call or contact Roberta Jordan (rjordan@patten.lib.me.us, 207-443-5141, extension 25).