MIFFLINTOWN — A stroll around the Juniata County Library reveals how important the arts are to the Mifflintown facility. The walls and halls are filled with paintings, literature and other works by local artists.

Now, the Juniata County Library, located at 498 Jefferson St., is offering free folk and traditional arts apprenticeship programs in August and September, in partnership with the Pennsylvania Council of the Arts and with funding from the Office of Commonwealth Libraries.

The first one is slated for 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 23, and features Erica Shellenberger and the 61/49, who will be holding a free demonstration program of folk and blue music at the Mifflintown Playground band shell, located in Myers Park next to the library.

“This won’t be a traditional show or performance,” Juniata County Library Director Vince Giordano said. “It will be very interactive as they discuss the different styles of folk and blues and then demonstrate those different styles. It will also include a question and answer.”

Attendees are encouraged to bring a blanket or lawn chair. The program is suitable for all ages. No registration is required.

From Monday, Aug. 26 through Friday, Sept. 20, two types of one-on-one sessions with Giordano are available by appointment. Attendees can digitally back up artwork or music that they have created, preserving it for future generations.

Giordano will personally collaborate with attendees and use computer and online resources to store, catalog and preserve the music or artwork.

“I’m big on music,” Giordano explained. “I grew up in the ’90s and 2000s when music just started to go online.”

He is anxious to help people save their original creations – both musically and artistically – for posterity’s sake. “I want to work with people to make them get digital copies and catalog it,” Giordano said. “And also preserve it digitally.”

With the available funding, the library also purchased a listening station which will give patrons the opportunity to listen to the music while visiting. “We can put it on a CD, and they can listen to what has been preserved through the apprenticeship at the listening station at the library with headphones,” Giordano added.

He also hopes to help talented artists find online platforms to save and display their artwork.

This project is made possible in part by federal funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Office of Commonwealth Libraries.

For more information, contact the library at 717.436.6378 or www.juniatalibrary.org.