SOUTHERN TIER, N.Y. (WENY) -- If you need a reason to travel around the Southern Tier, local libraries have you covered. You can visit as many as 48 locations in the Southern Tier Library System during the STARQuest library tour, earning swag along the way.  

“Folks, across the region, are encouraged to pick up a map at your local library and then try to visit as many as they can,” Erika Jenns, the Assistant Director of the Southern Tier Library System, said.  

You can visit any library in Alleghany, Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben, and Yates counties with your map. As you make your stops, you will receive a sticker to place on your map to prove that you made a visit.  

“Then, there are milestone stops so when you hit your milestones, which are at 5, 10, 24, 28 library visits...you get a special prize,” Jenns said.  

Many may only want to participate because of the prizes but Jenns said she does not mind. This library tour still gives people a chance to learn about other programs and services at each location.  

“We have food programs,” Pauline Emery, the Library Director of the Southeast Steuben County Library, said. “Food for our kids during the entire summer. Also, there’s regular story times....in Centerway, there’s a story time every week.”  

Jenns said each region’s library is special in its own way, giving the community endless options to enjoy during the summertime.  

“We cover such a large region and we really wanted to encourage folks to participate in local tourism, get out in their communities, and see what, not only the library has to offer but also the cool things that exist in our region,” Jenns said. 

The STARQuest library tour lasts from July 1st to September 30th.