GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Posters featuring famous women hang throughout the Green Cove Springs branch of the Clay County Public Library System. Jane Goodall, Frida Kahlo, Susan B. Anthony, Amelia Earhart, and many others look over the children’s section enticing young readers, throughout March, which is celebrated as Women’s History Month.

Branch Manager Jennifer Parker works hard to keep kids entertained in the library. The Friday storytime regulars are quick to raise their hands to try answering questions about the famous women who made up the bulk of last Friday’s discussion. With a predominantly female audience, Parker’s woman-oriented lesson attempts to plant a seed in these young ladies’ brains that they are capable of anything.

In addition to the regular lessons and activities, Parker invited a special guest to read to the children, Green Cove Springs Mayor Pam Lewis.

After a brief run-through of some “super” women, including Batgirl, Supergirl, the Invisible Woman and Wonder Woman, Lewis was announced, not as a superhero, but a community hero.

“I thought it would be nice for the kids to see a woman serving as an elected official and to learn how the city government serves the public,” Parker said.

This was the first time the library has hosted the mayor as a featured reader.

Lewis read two books, “I Want to be a Cowgirl,” about a girl who doesn’t want to do typical “girl” things and instead opts to be a cowgirl, and “Me... Jane,” a children’s book chronicling the life of primatologist Jane Goodall and her love of apes.

Before starting, Lewis shared with the kids an anecdote from her own life that related to the cowgirl book. Lewis’ four-year-old granddaughter, who lives in Colorado, is a real-life version of the girl in the story, as Lewis put it, “she has red hair and she rides a red horse.”

Between books and after a couple of activities, Lewis explained to the children present the basics of city government, how the council is elected, and how the mayor is chosen each year from among the council members. Immediately following the readings, Lewis helped hand out musical instruments for a parade of famous women, where the kids wore large name tags with a photo and brief description of several famous figures from history. Then the children went to work on crayon portraits of an important woman from their life.

The mayor seemed extremely pleased with the day’s program, especially the level of interest Parker takes in keeping the kids interested.

“[Parker] does fabulous things on a shoestring budget,” Lewis said. “She gives everything to make the library what it is.”

The library hosts its regular storytime, each with a different theme, Friday mornings at 10:30 a.m., and Parker invites special guests for various themes. Past guests, in addition to Lewis, have included members of the local fire and police departments, members of the local garden club and others.

The programs are designed for children ages 2-6, but accept all ages as long as the kids are willing to participate. Parker always prepares a combination of stories, songs and activities.