Hillside Public Library Hosts End of Summer Party

The hosted its annual end of the summer party for a crowd that pushed the occupancy limits of the all-purpose room.

"This is as crowded as I've ever seen the library," said Casey Dowdell. "It's great that so many people came out for the show and for the party.

The show was highlighted with a puppeteering performance. Steve Petra of Petra Puppets took the audience on a journey "laughing around the world."

With clever animal puppets ranging from a Flamingo to a Lemur, Petra was able to balance entertaining and educating hundreds of children as well as their parents, grandparents and the library staff themselves.

Besides the show, the end of the summer celebration also included the culmination of the summer reading program.

With the theme "One World, Many Students" in mind, the library has helped encourage reading as fun, as well as providing a few incentives. 

"The prizes are a lot of fun and it really did help motivate a lot of kids to read this summer," said Shalini Ahuja. "There are stuffed animals, beach balls and rubber duckies in mugs for the kids depending on how much of the reading program they completed across the summer."

So many people attending the event was evident of the overall quality of the community program- successfully engaging children to read from a young age.

With the theme of worldliness in mind the library has also been regularly donating to Island Harvest and encouraging patrons of the library to contribute. 

"We are accepting donations throughout the year and make regular donations," said Nyla Schneider. "If anyone could donate non-perishable foodstuffs, it would be appreciated."