BROOK PARK, Ohio -- The Brook Park branch library went loud and large in connecting with kids and their families through a fun Touch-A-Truck event May 21.
More than 500 people roamed from one vehicle to the next, with curious kids climbing in, up, out and around the huge machines.
Open for exploration were a police car, city dump truck, fire truck, U.S. Postal Service vehicle, Berea City School District bus, excavator, Cuyahoga County Public Library delivery truck, Army National Guard vehicles and more.
The Cleveland Kids’ Book Bank also was on hand and distributed more than 100 free children’s books.
“We wanted to really get out in the community in a big way to let people know we’re open and doing programs again,” Michelle Todd, head of the Brook Park Library Children’s Services Department, told cleveland.com.
“We have a lot of great things planned for families, children and people of all ages.”
She laughed while speaking above the shrill sound of emergency vehicle sirens and the blasting of big-truck horns from across the parking lot.
“The best part has been the excitement of the kids and the families,” Todd said. “They showed up before the event even started and were excited to get in there and explore.
“After going through the pandemic, we really wanted to reconnect with families and the kids about how important reading is,” she emphasized. “Not only that, but it’s important to be together and be with other families to socialize.”
School bus driver Taz was all smiles while watching families make their way among the seats.
“A lot of these kids have never been on a bus before, so they get a sense of what to expect in the next couple of years when they’re going to be riding one,” she explained, noting that most of the kids “really just wanted to beep the horn.”
“It’s a blast from the past for the parents, too,” she added.
For more information about Brook Park branch library programs, go to cuyahogalibrary.org.
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