SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN — With spring now here, local libraries are looking to celebrate with an annual, month-long event.

The third annual Library Hop!, which brings several local libraries together is set to take place April 1 through April 30. This year, 20 libraries are parcitipating in the event.

The annual Library Hop is a way to introduce people to area libraries and the programs each library offers, said organizers. Each participating library has planned special events during the month of April. Patrons can pick up a “passport” at one of local participating libraries.  As the libraries are visited, patrons can get a stamp on their passport from the library visited.

The Dowagiac District Library is offering Blackout Poetry, where patrons take a page from a book no longer in circulation and use a pencil to black out some of the text while strategically keeping other words visible, which creates a new and unique poem.

“The Library Hop provides a wonderful opportunity to plan road trips with family or friends in southwest Michigan,” said a Dowagiac District Library official. “The first week of the Library Hop coincides with Dowagiac Union Schools’ spring break, and any student and parent who is enjoying a vacation would benefit from this a great opportunity to be educated and entertained. The Library Hop is a great way to showcase the charm of small communities. There are interesting shops and restaurants in each location.  These communities have beautiful parks which would be great places to have a picnic, and there is history.  Did you know that the Harvester/Thrasher combine was invented by one of the first settlers in Climax?  Did you know that at least two of the communities represented were part of the Underground Railroad?”

For more information or to see a schedule of special events, visit LibraryHop.org or find Library Hop on Facebook.

Participating libraries include:

• Athens Community Library

• Burr Oak Township Library

• Cass County District Library

• Colon Township Library

• Comstock Township Library

• Constantine Township Library

• Dowagiac Community Library

• Galesburg-Charleston Memorial Library

•Lawrence Memorial Library, Climax

• Wood Memorial Library, Marcellus Township

•McKay Library, Augusta-Ross Township

• Mendon Township Library

• Nottawa Township Library

• Parchment Community Library

• Richland Community Library

• Schoolcraft Community Library

• Sturgis District Library

• Three Rivers Public Library

• VanBuren District Library

• Vicksburg District Library