Over a dozen children came to Joseph H. Plumb Library’s lawn with their families on Tuesday, August 18, for a celebration of the library’s 50th anniversary filled with bubbles and music. According to Fuchsia Haskell, the youth services librarian, the bubble celebration was the culmination of the library’s summer programming for children.
Many of the children at the event had been coming to the library every week over the summer, whether it was for the summer reading challenge, story times, or the weekly scavenger hunt.
Eleanor Nadeau, one of the children at the bubble-blowing and involved with library activities this summer, said playing with bubbles and going to the library was “so much fun” and that she loves taking out books to read.
Meg Taylor Fitzgerald, one of the mothers at the celebration, said that the library’s summer program had helped connect the community.
“Kids always love it, and they’ve made so many friendships, and parents have made friendships by coming to library events, and all the librarians get to know the kids,” Fitzgerald said.
Bubbles at the event were blown by Mr. Vinny the Bubble Guy, co-founder of The Toe Jam Puppet Band, using a three-foot bubble wand he designed and constructed himself. During his hour at the library, children chased and popped giant bubbles as he joked and told stories about bubbles.
The library’s 50th anniversary celebration will continue Saturday, August 22, with a plaque dedication ceremony at the Joseph H. Plumb Library presented by the Rochester Historic Commission.
By Zakary Sarkarati