The Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vt., ditched its quiet image in favor of a party atmosphere Saturday afternoon.

“It is a little noisier in here than usual, but what better reason,” said Kim Patton, young adult reading specialist for the Lawrence Public Library. “We have children in here on a Saturday afternoon and they’re planning to read.”

Hundreds of people turned out for the library’s Family Knight Festival, which kicked off the summer reading programs.

The event featured players from the Kansas City Renaissance Festival, live music, food and crafts for children. The event highlighted the themes for the summer reading programs, Patton said. “Dragons, Dreams and Daring Deeds” is the theme for the children’s program, and the theme for the teen reading program is “Joust Read.” Adults also can join a summer reading program.

For David Gates, 5, and Michael Gates, 7, the theme of the program and Saturday’s event were a perfect fit. The Lawrence boys are keen on stories about knights and dragons, said Kathy Gates, their mother.

Tony Lemons, 12, of Olathe, took steady aim Saturday as he came to the Lawrence Public Library to demonstrate the fine art of shooting arrows during the Family Knight Festival.

The boys went to the Kansas City Renaissance Festival last year where they participated in a knighting ceremony, Kathy Gates said. The boys requested to be called “Sir David” and “Sir Michael” for several weeks after the event.

“But we’ve also participated in the summer reading program since the boys were infants,” Kathy Gates said. “It’s kind of a tradition in our family.”

The boys planned to read several books. Michael said this would be the first year he could read on his own and he planned to make his way through at least 24 books.

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Patton said the summer reading programs would end July 31. But anyone can sign up and participate in the programs before that date.

For more information, call the library at 843-3833.