Bolivar and Strasburg library branches go wild July 1

On Tuesday, July 1, the Bolivar and Strasburg libraries will host an exotic animal encounter by Jungle Island Zoo, a mobile petting zoo. Animals featured will include a kangaroo, an armadillo, a tortoise and a kunekune pig, a small domestic pig from New Zealand.

Jungle Island Zoo will present the animals in a show-and-tell format and will allow children and adults to get up close to see or pet the creatures.

Most people know what kangaroos are marsupials indigenous to Australia and Papua New Guinea. Most armadillos reside in Central and South American countries, but the nine-banded variety also can be found in several southern states in the U.S.

Courtney Wallace, branch supervisor at Bolivar, said the library routinely holds animal events.

“Our last animal encounter this spring was the Leaping Lizards Adventure,” Wallace said. “I had a couple of boys ask me if we were going to have snakes again this summer, and I told them we had a kangaroo coming. It made a big impression on them.”

Emily Crilley, branch supervisor at the Strasburg Library, concurred. “The kids are absolutely thrilled with the animals,” she said. “We’ve brought in different animals over the years. We’ve had an alligator and a penguin, but we’ve never had a kangaroo, so I’m excited to bring that to the village.”

Interest in the Jungle Island Zoo program is already high. “We’ve already opened up more spaces because we reached the maximum amount of guests very quickly,” Wallace said.

Beyond the story books

Today’s libraries are very different from those recalled by earlier generations of visitors. “It’s not just a place to borrow things, although we certainly do that,” Crilley said. “But we’re also using taxpayer dollars to enrich our community by providing core experiences and memories.”

Today’s libraries often bring an entire world of ideas and opportunities to visitors on a local basis, allowing communities to enjoy things they may not otherwise be able to experience.

“Traveling is very expensive,” Wallace said. “So we’re giving people the opportunity to interact with animals they may not ever be able to encounter.”

Crilley also said the goal is to bring the world to local residents. “We don’t know how many kids and families will be able to take vacations this year, so having these animals here is important. It’s widening their horizons.”

The Jungle Island Zoo animal encounter was made possible through the support of several local organizations including SSB Community Bank, the Strasburg Lions Club and the Friends of the Strasburg Branch Library.

Since Jungle Island Zoo is an outdoor experience, visitors are encouraged to bring chairs and blankets to sit on. The Jungle Island Zoo will arrive in Strasburg at 5 p.m. before traveling to Bolivar at 7 p.m.

The program is free, but registration is required. Visit the online event calendar at www.tusclibrary.org or call the Bolivar Branch Library at 330-874-2720 or the Strasburg Branch Library at 330-878-5711.