Books and ice cream proved to be a winning combination at the Western Pocono Community Library’s recent ice cream social fundraiser.

Hosted by the newly formed Friends of the Library, the event featured treats including Mickey Mouse-shaped ice cream, Kit Kat cones and cotton candy ice pops. Hot dogs, chips and beverages also were available for purchase.

Brittany Competiello, president and treasurer of the Friends of the Library, said the organization is focused on building support for the library through community events.

“We’re trying to get established. We plan monthly activities. We had a very successful yard sale last month. In October, we’re going to have mini golf at the library,” she said.

The Friends group was started in May and currently has five members.

Nine-year-old Serenity Competiello said, “I like helping mommy, and I like helping the library.”

Five-year-old Marek Competiello said he enjoys doing crafts at the library and likes to “go to mommy’s meetings.” When asked what the meetings were about, he replied, “I have no idea.”

Games were set up on the grassy area outside the pavilion, where children and adults played ladder golf, oversize Connect Four and used large wands to blow bubbles.

The Rising Bear Coffee Co. also attended the event with its coffee truck, offering beverages including strawberry matcha, banana matcha, lattes and dirty sodas.

Kelsey Benedetto, of Effort, the public relations secretary for the Friends group, said her love of reading motivates her involvement with the organization.

“The library is important because I’m not excited about the way the world is moving with AI and people being illiterate. They shouldn’t be on their iPads, they should be at the library,” Benedetto said.

Hector Ramirez, who was a member of a previous Friends group years ago when the library was located in a different building, said he was happy to become involved again.

“I love this library. It’s a gem,” Ramirez said.

Friends member Doris Lane, who previously worked in circulation at the library, said she joined the group after retiring “to give back to the community.”

Victoria and Dan Kirby, of Effort, bring their 3-year-old daughter, Vanessa, to the library once or twice a month for story time.

Circulation Supervisor Phyliss Sorrentino highlighted several library programs, including a children’s historical fiction book club held on Mondays, a family art program, story time on Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. and the popular “messy art” program on Wednesdays.

Sorrentino said many new programs for children and adults are scheduled to begin in September.

For more information, visit the Friends of Western Pocono Community Library Facebook page or the library’s Facebook page.