WEST POINT — The Hawkes Children’s Library’s Junior Friends Club concluded its spring program Tuesday afternoon with a program about bumblebees. Dr. Lacey Southerland and students from Point University conduct the programs. The Junior Friends program is for children from kindergarten through sixth grade and meets at 4 p.m. ET on every other Tuesday. There’s also a pre-K storytime program for children in the 3 to 5-year-old age group that meets at 10:30 a.m.

While the spring programs have concluded, the children are excited about an upcoming family picnic. It will be taking place from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 18, just outside the library on the nearby river bank.

“There’s no need to sign up,” Dr. Southerland said. “Just come and join us. Lunch will be provided, and you can bring the whole family. You can sit next to the beautiful Chattahoochee River and enjoy a good, old-fashioned picnic.”

There will be games for the kids and photo opportunities with colorful backdrops provided by Bill Gooding. On Thursday, May 16, there will be a Chick-fil-A fundraiser for Hawkes Library. It will be taking place from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. ET that day. Tickets are $8 each and can be purchased in advance at the library or from any of the Hawkes Friends. Each bag will have a Chick-fil-A sandwich, chips and a Little Debbie snack cake. Drinks will be available for $1 each. Until they are all gone, walk up meals will be available.

Hawkes Library was built in 1922 with funds bequeathed by Albert King Hawkes. An inventor, optometrist and philanthropist, Mr. Hawkes donated money for the construction of libraries to several communities with the stated goal of promoting children’s literacy. The library has long had a continuing legacy in the community and will reach its centennial in three years. The building was constructed by Batson-Cook with financial support from the West Point Woman’s Club and a local men’s reading club.

Located across West 8th Street from city hall, Hawkes Library has been included on the National Register of Historic Places since 1991.

The Friends of Hawkes Library was formed by a small group in 1998. Led by founder Lynda Hines and then librarian Rebecca Cotney, the organization has sought to continue children’s programs, encourage local authors, host adult classes and arts events and to contribute to the building’s preservation. Library Friend Ellen Sapp upholds a family legacy. Her mother, Dorothy Young, attended the opening celebration of Hawkes Library as a young child in 1923.

Just as it has from the beginning, Hawkes continues to operate four days a week with a library staff headed by Mary Ann Davenport. Balancing history with the needs of the community, computers and a copy machine are available for patrons to apply for jobs, research information or to e-mail. Free wifi is also available for those using their own devices.