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News and Events from Norfolk Public Library and the Friends of NPL
NPL Mascot Woos Crowd at Official Unveiling River the Reading Ranger
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The weather could not have been more perfect when the Norfolk Public Library (NPL) unveiled its new mascot at the Saint Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, 2014.
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he mascot, an adorable fox named River the Reading Ranger, made his first public appearance in balmy 71 degree weather seated atop the back of a convertible donning a red cape. Library staff and volunteers marched in the parade carrying signs that introduced River the Reading Ranger and roused the crowd. River followed close behind waving with his cape flowing in the wind. Comparing the Library’s new mascot to the viral Norwegian musical hit, several spectators throughout the parade posed the question, “What does the fox say?” In response, library staff and volunteers chanted “Read!” prompting cheers from the crowd. The idea of creating an official mascot for NPL developed in 2012 when the Friends of the Norfolk Public Library (FNPL) sought ways to increase community awareness about the new Slover Memorial Library that is expected to open in early 2015. The FNPL held the Read & Rethink Everything Read-a-thon for Norfolk’s K-12 students. All elementary and middle school students who participated in the reada-thon had an opportunity to vote for a mascot character type, which culminated in a marvelous reading superhero.
In upcoming weeks, you may catch a glimpse of River the Reading Ranger as he makes visits to all Norfolk Public Library branches to engage children in reading. Check the NPL website for details at www.npl.lib. va.us. Read River’s official backstory at: http://bit.ly/NPLReadingRanger.
River the Reading Ranger at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Get Your Sneak Peek at Slover Library’s Technology
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Slover Memorial Library Preview Center Now Open
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Experience the Slover Memorial Library before the doors open! Visit the Slover Library Preview Center and explore the interactive technology that will be featured in the Slover Memorial Library, scheduled to open early 2015. The Visitors experiment with Slover Preview Center is located at 240 E. Main Street and Slover’s surface table technology is open to the public Monday-Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Inside:
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Used Books at Bargain Prices
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“Paws to READ” this Summer with NPL
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Small Acts of Kindness Go a Long Way
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Beach Reads at Your Fingertips