While this year’s presidential election is already frightening to some, the Elizabethton/Carter County Public Library is offering a variety of activities in the coming weeks to celebrate Halloween and the November general election.
As preparation continues for upcoming Halloween events, the public library recently put the final touches on their own voting booth located in the main lobby. Attendees of the library will have a chance to vote for three book characters – Llama Llama, Pete the Cat or Pigeon – or even have a chance to write in their own candidate starting Friday, Oct. 21. The event will last until election day – Tuesday, Nov. 8.
“We wanted to have fun this year and tie this in with the upcoming election,” Children’s Librarian Ashlee Williams said. “ The character with the most votes will be predominately showcased throughout the library. We’ve had so many parents come in and talk about the presidential election so we thought this we be a great opportunity to have people come in and participate with over the next couple of weeks.”
Library staff members were busy getting the last pieces in place Thursday evening, and added the event will be something that can be enjoyed by all of the library’s patrons.
“The Pigeon vs. Pete debate is a very lively one in our country,” Archivist Joe Penza said with laugh. “But we really we want to promote education civics, participation in our democracy and even the awareness in our country.”
The library knows how to have some fun with their activities, but are also enjoying the opportunities to band together with local agencies to help service the community, Williams added.
“We really value our partners in the community,” she said. “UT-Extension, Parks and Recreation, the health department … there’s really too many to count. We all work together to provide the community what they need, whether resources or information. By working with others, we can provide more than what the library can on its own.”
The library is working in conjunction with the city’s Parks and Recreation and other entities with the downtown trick-or-treating event that’s scheduled for Halloween – Monday, Oct. 31 – from 3 to 4:30 p.m.
But during that time, Patron Services Supervisor Bernie Weese and members of the library’s Teen advisory board will host an event of their own sort at the library, geared toward teens, tentatively scheduled from 4 to 6 p.m. with the theme based on “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children”.
Weese spearheads to board, which is comprised of different teens throughout the area that are planning different programs to help encourage the youth in the area to assist within the community.
Another event around the bend is the Homeschool Candy Science. The event is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 7, from 11 a.m. to noon at the Parks and Recreation building. Attendees are encouraged to bring over their leftover Halloween candy and take part in different science projects.
And with a laundry list of events underway, and more on the horizon, the community is encouraged to attend.
“Everything we do is always free,” Williams said. “It is open to the public and, normally, there’s no registration.”