“Blades,” the mascot of the Boston Bruins, and friends from the Massachusetts Library Association visited Russell Public Library on July 22 for the program, “When you read, you score!”
Reminder Publishing photo by Amy Porter
RUSSELL — The Russell Public Library had a special visitor on July 22. “Blades,” the Boston Bruins Mascot and friends from the Mass. Board of Library Commissioners stopped by for their summer reading promotion, “When you read, you score!”
The library had a full house for the visit, which also attracted young and old Bruins’ fans from neighboring towns.
Library Commissioner Rachel Masse said they have been doing visits to libraries around the state since 2009. This was their first visit to Russell.
Masse said they had 114 applications this year, and were able to visit 14. After Russell, they headed to Hadley for a visit.
The fun started with Russell Public Library Director Jennifer Waldorf reading the book “Up the Creek” by Nicholas Oldland, while Blades acted out the parts of the bear. At the end of the story, Blades signed the book, and donated it to the library’s collection.
There was also a question and answer session, with questions such as “What kind of animal am I?” (which Masse answered for him, because Blades doesn’t speak) with Bruins’ prizes given out for the answers. Blades also signed and handed out posters featuring Bruins’ player Jeremy Swayman.
Fourth grade hockey fan Jaxson Petrucci of Chester, who plays for the junior Thunderbirds got a poster and a photo with Blades.
The library staff was thrilled with the turnout for the event. “They’ve done a fantastic job, and brought a great crew from the Library Association,” said Waldorf.
