R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press

Community members gather on the lawn and in the garden on the north side of the Escanaba Public Library while the Escanaba City Band warms up before Wednesday evening’s ice cream social. The event is held annually by the Friends of the Escanaba Public Library, an organization that was formed in 1988 to help support programs and entertainment not covered by the public library’s regular operating budget. It serves in part as a launch of the summer reading program. Immediately prior to the ice cream social was a book sale, funds from which will directly support children’s summer activities at the library and other programs.