Sunday, November 9, 2025
Seaford Middle School students are finding fun and friendship during their lunch breaks through the library’s “Lunch in the Library” program. The initiative, led by librarian Samantha Riebling, turns the library into a lively space for creativity, teamwork and learning outside the classroom.
Over the summer, Seaford Middle School’s library underwent a transformation with new flooring, bookshelves and a variety of seating options to accommodate different activities. The updated design makes it a more flexible and welcoming place where students can collaborate or find a quiet spot to read. Riebling said the upgrades have allowed her to expand programming and make the library a destination during lunch. The new layout supports everything from craft projects to STEM challenges, encouraging students to explore the library’s many materials and resources.
Each lunch period, 30 students can sign up for “Lunch in the Library,” where they can choose from an assortment of games, projects and challenges. Popular options include board games such as Battleship, chess, Guess Who and Scrabble, which encourage friendly competition and teamwork. Students have also tackled creative projects like a large pixel art mural and craft sessions that promote self-expression. Early in the school year, Riebling guided students through making vision boards to display in their lockers, a reminder of their personal goals. They’ve also crafted friendship bracelets, pom-pom bookmarks and taken on fun group engineering challenges.
Beyond games and crafts, “Lunch in the Library” provides a space for students to read, study or start their homework in a relaxed environment. Riebling encourages students to borrow books before returning to class, helping them discover new interests and genres. Each month, she introduces themed activities to keep things fresh—October’s highlight is a scary story contest, where students submit two-sentence horror tales for a Halloween prize. Riebling said her goal is to make the library a “safe space for students to come and try something new,” fostering curiosity and a lifelong love of learning.
