On Saturday, if islanders find themselves longing for the pastimes of summer, they can head to the Vashon Library, not for a good book to while away the hours, but to play a round of a summertime favorite: mini golf.

The event — promoted by posters boasting “A Hole Lot of Fun” — is a fundraiser for the Friends of the Vashon Library. The Friends provide financial support to the library for a multitude of programs, ranging from story times to teen nights to opera previews and game nights. The Friends have long supported the library through book sales, but this year, they were inspired to branch out, and they have plans to turn the serene stacks into a bonafide nine-hole mini golf course. While the idea might seem like a creative Vashon original, library mini golf has benefitted many libraries with money — and happy golfers — for more than a decade. The primary organizer of Vashon’s event, islander Lisa Lucke, said she and other members of the Vashon Friends learned about the idea a few years ago at a King County Library System meeting and this year, decided to take action.

“We wanted to change it up. We wanted to find a way to bring the community to the library, to encourage people to be part of the library, to have a different library experience,” Lucke said.

Friends of the Library President Carolin Turner noted that the group has been talking about the idea for a long time, and Lucke has been the driving force behind this effort.

“We had to fish or cut bait on the mini golf,” Lucke agreed.

And fish they have. They have designed a course that winds through the stacks, planned a silent auction for the event and secured sponsors from the island’s business community.

Lucke cautions that the library’s flat carpet makes for a fast green and that some holes will go around corners. There will be obstacles, including tunnels made out of reference books, and themes to correspond with the Dewey Decimal System.

Organizers do not want to give away all their secrets, but divulged that one hole would be Puget Sound themed, with a pod of Orcas — found at Granny’s Attic; another has a Valentine’s theme, with hearts and a lot of pink, while another — in the travel section — will include an Eiffel Tower and Egyptian pyramid, which Lucke made.

“When you are retired, you have time to mess around,” she said with a shrug.

The last two holes will be in the children’s section, where an incarnation of Eric Carle’s Very Hungry Caterpillar is likely to make an appearance.

Golfers will play the course in foursomes (with some accommodations made for larger families), making it a community builder as well as a fundraiser, Lucke said. She expects that the nine holes will be able to be played in about 30 minutes.

Library Operations Supervisor Marion Comaskey issued a caveat to the well-laid plans: “It is the first time. You just never know what is going to happen.”

Lucke said the Friends have not set a goal for how much they hope to raise at the event, but have secured sponsors for each of the holes, from real estate companies to restaurants.

“I have just been roaming the streets of Vashon, asking people for money for mini golf,” she said.

Others have donated cash or items for the auction or will provide refreshments for the evening. Comaskey noted that that the business community has been generous, including businessed down in Burton.

While mini golf — also known as putt putt golf in some quarters — is strongly linked with laughter, the cause is a serious one: supporting programs for all ages at the library. Historically, the Friends have supported the programs through book sales at the library throughout the year and larger sales in the spring and fall. On average, the group brings in about $5,000 per year.

Lucke said Friends groups for other libraries in the KCLS system have seen their book donations for sales drop off considerably with the rise of e-books and audiobooks, but that has not been the case on Vashon.

“Fortunately, we live on an island of readers — of books you can hold in your hand and turn an actual page,” she added.

For 2018, the Vashon Library requested $8,300 from the Friends to fund performers for children, science and art workshops, snacks, programs for seniors — and more.

Comaskey noted that the library has a new strategic plan that calls for it to be a community center and provide programs accordingly. Now, for example, the library offers yoga for adults and children. And recently a presentation on tiny houses drew 70 people and overflowed from the meeting room into the main portion of the library. A monthly game night has become quite popular. And because it is a library, all programs are free.

Erin Rozewicz, who manages teen and adult programs at the Vashon Library, noted that taxes do not fund programming. Currently, each month she offers four programs for each of the two age groups she oversees and relies on the Friends.

“Without the Friends group, you are looking at one program a month or one every six weeks,” she said, adding, “If you want to see as much programming as possible, go to this fundraiser and donate books for the sale.”

Rozewicz plans the popular Teen Nights, when the library opens to youth in grades six through 12. They do everything from make Italian sodas to make crafts to play video and board games. Such are programs are vital, she said, and plant seeds for the future.

“If we are not engaging kids and teens, we lose them as adults,” she said.

To take in the fun planned for this weekend, she shifted her schedule to be there, and the library’s regional manager is coming as well. Lucke said that if the event is successful, it may spur some other nearby Friends groups to give it a try in support of their libraries. And, she added, this might not be the only time the community gathers in the library for a good game of golf.

“If it is a big hit, we will offer it again,” she said.

The Hole Lot of Fun event will take place between 6 and 9 p.m. Saturday. Tee times are every 10 minutes. The cost is $5 per person.