ROYALSTON — When Royalston Library Director Kathy Morris received an email letting her know the library had been chosen for a visit by Bruins mascot Blades, she was so excited she shouted, “Whoopee!” and startled the patron who had approached the desk to check out books.
“We are very pleased to welcome Blades to our library and proud of the Boston Bruins and its support of summer reading in the Commonwealth,” Morris said.
The Boston Bruins have teamed up with libraries across the Commonwealth to encourage kids and teens to keep reading over the summer.
Blades will be joining readers for a story, some game day fun, and a craft on Thursday, July 26, at 2 p.m. Participants will spin the Bruins trivia wheel, get a Bruins tattoo, make a hockey mask and receive a goody bag. Children will be able to count the story read and receive a ticket to enter the reading contest. After the program, there will be Bruins-themed snacks. Photos with Blades will be taken, and people are welcome to take photos of their children with Blades.
To encourage children and teens to keep reading over the summer, Bruins players, including Patrice Bergeron, Zdeno Chara and Tuukka Rask have helped libraries develop Favorite Books of the Boston Bruins, a recommended reading list that also includes librarian picks for the best hockey books. The library in Royalston has many of the books and others about hockey and hockey players to borrow.
Participation at the event at Phinehas S. Newton Library, 19 On the Common, is open to everyone, but you must sign up by calling the library at 978-249-3572 or emailing: royalstonlibrary@gmail.com. If you call when the library is not open, leave your name, phone number and age of each participant. For more information, you can also visit: www.royalstonlibrary.org
The Statewide Summer Library Program is made possible through funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services as administered by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners and through support from the Boston Bruins. Refreshments and prizes are funded by the Friends of the Phinehas S. Newton Library.