The Lafayette County & Oxford Public Library commemorated the end of summer vacation with a special celebration on Friday.

Children and parents attended the End of Summer Party, which featured cake, popcorn and the musical stylings of Amy and Luke Fisher. Partygoers were also able to take a spin on one of Oxford’s signature double-decker busses.

Friday might have started out with gloomy weather, but according to head librarian Laura Beth Walker, no amount of rain could dampen their spirits.

“It’s been really successful and very busy this summer, and that’s why we all need August to kind of regroup and be ready to go in September,” Walker said. “This is the first year we’ve done that, so we’re all really excited.”

The library will remain open during the month of August, but will take a month-long break from programming in order to recover from the hustle and bustle of summer. Walker also said it will be an opportunity for Ally Watkins, the new youth services librarian, to settle in and get to know the community before things pick up in September.

Meridith Wulff, the library’s youth specialist, said Friday’s party was the perfect way to celebrate a job well done.

“This has been an amazing summer at the library. Our wonderful patrons have been here for us, and it’s been a lively combination of reading and programs,” Wulff said. “We’ve been averaging two fun programs for kids per day, and we really have something for everybody. It’s been fun to have a mix of our community here, and we’re so grateful to our patrons for participating and making things so fun.”

On any given day, Wulff said the number of attendees at library events this summer ranged from 15 to as many as 200 patrons. Plus, she said, the children’s corner is always busy.

Above all, providing a place where the community can come together and learn from not only what the library has to offer, but also from each other, makes all the hard work worth it, Wulff said.

For more information on the Lafayette County & Oxford Public Library, visit https://lcopl.com.