Students get more than books from Back to School Bash
Children left the Butler Area Public Library Thursday, Aug. 17, carrying armfuls of books that they weren’t going to have to return in three weeks.
Tiffany Harkleroad, youth services librarian, said the library partnered with Butler Area School District for the second year of the Back to School Bash, which supplied children and families with resources to help them through school.
“The main goal is to connect people in the community with resources to support parents and children as they prepare for back to school,” Harkleroad said. “Just to let them know they’re not alone on this journey; the library is always here to support them, the district is here to support them; other organizations in the community such as the United Way.”
The library courtyard was packed during the bash, which took place from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Harkleroad said people were lining up 20 minutes before it was scheduled to start. Last year, about 200 people attended the bash, but Harkleroad said the library planned to get an even bigger attendance this year.
“We did invite the private schools in town as well, and we intentionally scheduled it a little bit earlier because the private schools go back to school earlier,” Harkleroad said.
Angela Smith, of Butler, wanted to get supplies for her 5-year-old daughter’s first day of kindergarten, but Brielle Johnson-Jetter-Smith spent a lot of time at the bash petting the therapy dogs.
“I heard about this and wanted to get her ready,” Smith said. “I wanted her to get through the whole thing before she saw the dogs.”
Grant Cribbs, 8, of Butler Township, also spent time reading to the therapy dogs at the library.
“We came for the first time last year and wanted to come back when they had it this year,” Grant’s mom, Rebecca Cribbs, said of the Back to School Bash.
Children received passports as they entered the event, which encouraged them to stop at every station, not only for their resources, but to collect all the stamps.
Stations included the Kona Ice truck; therapy dogs; a book stop created by Butler Area School District; a back to school time capsule station; a drum circle; and more.
Many of these resources, including the library itself, shared contact information with parents so they could follow up if they need help during the school year. Harkleroad said the library invited community organizations to the event so parents would know where to turn to if their child needs help at school.
“There’s different activities that the kids can do to supplement school,” Harkleroad said. “It doesn’t end when the school day ends, there’s other things in the community that help support their education as well.”
