It’s going to be a really big week at the Clark County Public Library.

From 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 20, the youth department present its Springtime Extravaganza, kickoff to the 2017 Children’s Summer Reading Program!

This is a fabulous time for kids. There will be face painting, balloon animals, cotton candy and the pure joy of lots of kids playing and anticipating another wonderful summer of free books, events and prizes.

If you and your children can’t make it to the library Saturday morning, don’t worry. Sign-ups for the Summer Reading Program continue through July.

Please be extra careful driving in the parking lot Saturday morning.

This Wednesday, May 17, at 6:30 p.m. Bill Best, the founder of Sustainable Mountain Agriculture in Berea, the maestro of heirloom bean growing and seed saving in Kentucky and an all around great guy, will be presenting a talk at the library entitled “3000 Years of Kentucky Seed Saving.”

Recent archeological research by University of Kentucky Anthropologist Gwen Henderson, suggests that seed saving in Kentucky has been going on for at least 3000 years, probably much longer.

Bill’s presentation on the 17th will be based in part on  Henderson’s research and also on information contained in his new book, “Kentucky Heirloom Seeds: Growing, Eating, Saving.”

Clark County Public Library Director Julie Maruskin, wrote one of the chapters for the book, and it has an afterword by Brook Elliott.

Bill will have copies of the book to sell after his talk along with some heirloom tomato plants and, most importantly, packages of his rare, traditional Kentucky bean seeds. Bill Best is famous for the varieties of Kentucky bean seeds he saves. Put your garden tools up a couple hours early on May 17 and come to the library to meet one of the best and most admired agriculturalists in Kentucky.

Although it is not necessary to register for this program, please do if you can. Bill will want to know approximate numbers of seeds to bring. To register, call the library at 744-5661 or use the library’s online Evanced registration system which is found at our website www.clarkbooks.org.

Once you have your bean seeds planted you will need some way to distinguish the varieties.

Do that with style by attending the Garden Markers Crafters’ Workshop, Thursday, May 18, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Reuse empty aluminum cans punched with alphabet letter cutters to create indestructible, non-fading garden markers for your plant rows. There will also be demonstrations of how to create other no-fade or low-fade markers using paint pens with recycled plastics, brick and stone. Please sign up in advance.

A lot more people are riding bicycles in Winchester these days, and that’s swell. Since May is National Bicycle Month, the library is hosting a Winchester alleys bicycle ride from 10:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 20.

The alleys of Winchester are safe for bicycles because they are infrequently used by automobiles, and they are beautiful — lined by leafy trees, quaint neighborhood backyards and historic buildings with fire-escape connected balconies.

This will be a slow, easy ride, suitable for riders of all ages and riding skill levels. Children up to the age of 15 must be accompanied by adult guardians. Bike helmets are recommended. All riders will sign an accident waiver.

We will start at the library at 10:30 a.m., tour the alleys and those who like can end the ride at South Main Grocery for lunch. If you have any questions about the ride, please call the library and connect to extension 110.

It’s springtime in Kentucky, time for biker gangs to hit the highways and bicycle gangs to cruise the alleys.

Ride on.

John Maruskin is director of adult services at the Clark County Public Library. He can be reached at john.clarkbooks@gmail.com.