It’s fun to go out-of-town to shop sometimes, but shopping locally can be just as fun and can help drive the local economy.

The Selma-Dallas County Public Library wants to encourage the public to shop locally at its first “Henry Courtyard Café at the Library” beginning April 11-14 in honor of National Library Week.

Monday through Thursday will feature short presentations from Roger Butler Jewelers, Cheryl King, the Party Box (across the street from the Lilypad), Gray’s Furniture, Fuller Hardware Building and Truax and Company. Visitors can hear the presentations and eat a variety lunches outside.

“We want to take advantage of spring and the sensational downtown area,” Becky Nichols, library director, said. “We want to show off our local merchants and we want to encourage the public to shop Selma.”

Nichols said this is the first time the library has done something like this and the staff is very excited.

“It’s going to be great,” library employee Jan Parker said. “We’ll be utilizing the beautiful courtyard and show people businesses on Broad Street many may not be familiar with. Anything latest and greatest will be there. The program will be interesting.”

“We’re delighted merchants took off from their schedules to come out and be with us,” Nichols said. “If this goes well, we’re hoping to do another show like this in the fall.”

Also during the week of April 11-16, Parker said the public can bring in receipts from Broad Street’s merchants and have their library fees waived.

Lunch will be served from noon until 12:30 with the merchant’s show following afterward. The cost of the event is $8. There will be presentations during and after lunch. For reservations call 874-1725.

The library would like to thank the Selma-Dallas County Chamber of Commerce, Four Seasons Garden Center for flower decorations and Gordon Welch for providing music for the event.