BY IRENE LABOMBARDE

Bedford boys and girls are journeying across the country as part of the summer reading program at the Bedford Library.

The Reading Road Trip, USA journey is, of course, imaginary. Luci Albertson, director of Children’s Services, said this year’s enrollment of 1,100 readers is about average, and she expects more children to sign up throughout the summer.

The children are divided into three groups – the Explorers, Trailblazers and the VW Beetles.

Young readers are encouraged to bring their reading logs to the library each week and add their totals to their team’s tally, and prizes are given each week. Special crafts are also available.

Extra help is needed for this busy season, and Albertson said 105 children in grades 5 to 7 have volunteered as junior librarians.

“I like helping people and reading books,” said junior librarian Abby Guerra, 10. “I like seeing how many books people have read and congratulating them.”

Alex Torcia also prefers staffing the reading log station.

“It’s fun stamping the sheets and giving out prizes,” said Alex, a fifth-grader.

Olivia Lambert, 9, said her mother encouraged her to be a junior librarian.

“My mom thought it would be a good idea to do volunteer work, and this gives me more things to do during the day,” she said.

Olivia said she prefers working in the craft castle because it’s busier than checking reading logs.

This is 11-year-old Margo Pierson’s second summer as a junior librarian. Margo returned because she really likes doing the crafts with the youngsters.

In conjunction with the summer reading program, the library hosts several entertainment programs and contests.

On Tuesday, July 17, children will have the chance to show off their ingenuity in the Wacky Wheels Contest.

Call Albertson at 472-3023 or visit the library’s children’s room for more information.