Photo courtesy of the Sheffield Township Library The Sheffield Township Library is holding a series of events next week in commemoration of its centennial. Here, outgoing Director Alexis McAvoy presents a summer reading certificate to a young reader.

A full slate of events is planned next week to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Sheffield Township Library.

Historical displays and art currently on exhibit will be available each day and anyone that comes in and shares a library memory will be entered into a drawing for a prize.

Director Christine Porter, just two weeks into the job, views the role of libraries in smaller communities as “hugely important.”

“Libraries have really changed and evolved over the years,” she said, and have “really become community centers.”

She’s seen that first hand, she said, with families connecting in the library space.

“I feel like it just creates that sense of community (that is) especially important for your smaller towns.”

For the centennial, Monday will feature face painting from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. while Tuesday will bring 3D creations with 3Doodler pens for people ages five and up

Wednesday brings a meet-and-greet with Porter, who will share a special yo-yo story session at 3:30 p.m. Everyone participating will receive a yo-yo and learn a new trick. She noted that it’s open both for kids and adults.

A farewell for the outgoing director, Alexis McAvoy, will be held from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday.

Porter said her role is “trying to continue the legacy” that McAvoy started. “(She) made a lot of amazing changes, made this library something to be proud of…. It’s wonderful.”

She comes to her new role with over 10 years experience as a library director in Middletown, Pa. and in Vermont.

She had been diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia but was declared in remission in February.

“I was cleared to go back to work,” she said, and was “trying to figure out what that was going to look like…. I always loved the library. I really enjoyed my time there.”

And then she saw the opening in Sheffield and thought “that’s perfect.”

She said both libraries she worked in previously were in small towns.

“I felt that was where I was needing to be,” she said.

The library is located at 20 Leather St. and hours are Monday from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Tuesday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.