The Brown Library will host a Christmas party for participants of its teen reading program Friday, celebrating the end of this year’s events and activities, which continue to draw Beaufort County students to read and have fun doing so.

On Friday, from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., the group, made up of 12 to 18-year-olds, will meet after Beaufort County School’s early release for a Christmas party, featuring refreshments and an activity involving recycling, said Kim Davenport, library services coordinator. Participants will do recycled crafts, reusing damaged or discarded books. Pre-registration is required, Davenport said.

“If they have books of their own or a favorite book that is maybe in disrepair, they can incorporate their books into the craft — personalize it, so to speak,” Davenport said. “And we’ll have Christmas ornaments from the books. We’re going to keep them around one way or another.”

Davenport said the monthly program has become somewhat of a book club for the teen group. Before the year is over, the library will host one more event. The event, which will probably feature a book to movie activity, will be based on feedback from the group, much like each month’s program, Davenport said. The program exists with financial support from the Friends of Brown Library, who believe in a teen-specific program, and help meet demands of the group, according to Davenport.

“We actually often give them small surveys so they can help direct us on what programs to hold,” Davenport said. “They really get to voice their opinion, and we love to hear from them. They get really enthusiastic about it. They just kind of steer us, and we make sure we cover all our bases with them to keep them motivated and interested in the library.”

The programs, which are always centered around something to do with reading and books, serve as a way to keep teens immersed in literature, Davenport said. It aid in expanding the viewpoint and creativity of its participants, as well. Since its inception almost five years ago, the program has grown from a handful of regular participants to almost three dozen. Regular participants get excited about the program, tell their friends and invite them to join the monthly activities and events, Davenport said.

Davenport said the program is an outlet for those in the group, who may not fit into other subgroups — like athletes, for example — among their peers. The programs not only get participants immersed in reading, but they also contain a social element. Some teens, who solely read graphic novels, have joined the group and transitioned to reading traditional novels, something Davenport says proves the programs’ effectiveness and appeal among those in the group.

“We are engaging some reluctant readers and seeing them really get enthralled with traditional novels versus graphic novels,” Davenport said. “We’ve also seen some kids that have had difficulty in school settings, and they find this to be a safe haven for them. It’s a cool hangout. They’re not only getting books, but they’re finding a peer group they can relate to through books — they share a common interest. It’s a good thing.”

To pre-register for the Christmas party, call the Brown Library at 252-946-4300 by 7 p.m. today.